In a major development in the Fakir Mohan College student suicide case, the Odisha government has added serious charges including abetment of suicide and causing severe mental trauma to the FIR, following the death of 20-year-old Soumyashree.
Odisha Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari, addressing the media on Tuesday, confirmed that the scope of the investigation has been expanded. “Since the student has passed away, the previously filed sections have been revised. Now, we’ve included charges of abetment and mental harassment,” he said.
Pujari also stated that the probe will not be confined to just the college principal and head of department but will cover any individual who instigated the act or failed to respond to the complaint. “Anyone found directly or indirectly responsible will face action,” he added.
A high-level meeting chaired at the State Secretariat included Deputy Chief Ministers, BJP state president, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, Health Minister, Transport Minister, and senior legislator Jay Narayan Mishra, among others. The meeting discussed legal strategy and further administrative actions.
Law Minister Harichandan assured, “The legal process is underway as per the Chief Minister’s directives. Those responsible will face strict consequences, and measures will be introduced to prevent recurrence of such incidents across Odisha’s educational institutions.”
The student, a B.Ed second-year scholar at FM (Autonomous) College in Balasore, reportedly set herself on fire on July 12 following inaction on her harassment complaint. She succumbed to her injuries on July 15, sparking statewide outrage and political protests.
