15-Year-Old Girl Set Ablaze in Nimapada
Odisha was left shaken after a horrific incident in Balanga village, Nimapada, where a 15-year-old Class 9 student was set on fire by three unidentified men. The girl, who was on her way to visit a friend, was doused in petrol and burnt alive. She sustained 70 percent burns and was admitted in critical condition to the Burns Unit at AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
The Puri Sub-Collector and the Nimapada BDO offered financial assistance to the victim’s family, providing Rs 30,000 and Rs 15,000 respectively. While the police have initiated an investigation, the accused remain absconding. The incident sparked deep concern across the state.
Nimapada MLA and Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida expressed her shock on social media platform X, stating, “I am saddened and shocked to hear that miscreants have poured petrol on a fifteen-year-old girl and burnt her.”
B.Ed Student Dies After Self-Immolation in Balasore
Adding to the state’s anguish, a 20-year-old second-year B.Ed student at Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore set herself ablaze on July 12, right outside the principal’s office. In a harrowing note, she accused the Head of Department, Samir Kumar Sahu, of long-term sexual harassment and blamed the college administration for gross negligence.
She was rushed to AIIMS Bhubaneswar with 95 percent burns and remained under intensive care until her death on July 14 at 11:46 p.m. CCTV footage captured the entire incident, which led to the arrest of both Sahu and Principal Dilip Kumar Ghosh on charges of abetment to suicide. Both have since been suspended, and the University Grants Commission (UGC) has formed a fact-finding panel to investigate the matter.
The student’s father has alleged foul play, claiming she was coerced into withdrawing her earlier complaint. On July 19, the Odisha Crime Branch questioned a fellow student, Jyotiprakash Bishwal—who sustained 15 percent burns while trying to rescue her—during a five-hour inquiry, along with college staff.
Political Repercussions and Public Outcry
The Balasore incident ignited widespread protests. A statewide bandh was observed on July 17, led by the Congress and supported by BJD. Demonstrations erupted in Bhubaneswar and Balasore, with protestors demanding accountability from top state officials and immediate resignations.
BJD Mahila Morcha leader Ipsita Sahu directly blamed the BJP-led state government, stating, “Women are not safe under this regime.” Congress leaders, including Ajay Lallu and MLA Sofia Firdous, lambasted the so-called “double engine” government, accusing it of complete failure in protecting women and enforcing institutional safeguards.
A Call for Systemic Reforms
Both tragedies have exposed deep flaws in Odisha’s law enforcement, educational administration, and institutional responses to gender-based violence. With investigations underway and mounting public pressure, the state faces growing demands for systemic reforms to ensure justice for the victims and safety for women in public and private spaces.