Archive · 24 Jul 2025
Odisha Student's Death: Police Probe and High Court Ruling
A young college student in Odisha died after setting herself on fire.
She claimed the college didn't address her sexual harassment complaint against a professor.
Police are now looking for two girls who were with her.
The professor and principal have been suspended.
However, the High Court decided against forming a special team to investigate, as there's already a police investigation.
The government also plans to improve safety in schools by installing cameras and forming committees to handle harassment complaints.
A 20-year-old student died by self-immolation after alleging a lack of action on her sexual harassment complaint against a department head.
Odisha police are seeking to identify two girls seen with the student before the incident.
Both the department head and college principal have been suspended and jailed.
The Orissa High Court rejected a request for a court-constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT).
The state government plans to install CCTV cameras in schools and enforce Internal Complaints Committees under the POSH Act.
- Who
- A 20-year-old student and the head of the education department, Samir Sahoo, are central to the case.
- What
- A student died by self-immolation after allegedly facing sexual harassment and lack of redressal.
- When
- The incident occurred on July 12, with the student succumbing to injuries on July 14.
- Where
- Outside the principal’s chamber at Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Odisha.
- Why
- The student took the extreme step due to alleged inaction on her sexual harassment complaint.
High Court
Petitioners
SIT Formation
High Court
The investigation by the state's SIT is sufficient.
Petitioners
A court-constituted SIT is necessary for an unbiased investigation.
- Victim Age
- 20 years old
- Incident Date
- July 12
- Death Date
- July 14
- Location
- Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College, Odisha
- Involved Parties
- Head of education department Samir Sahoo and College Principal
- Investigation Lead
- Crime Branch, Odisha Police
- High Court Decision
- Rejected a SIT