Odisha Bandh Today Over Student's Self-Immolation: What's Open & What's Closed
Transport services were hit and shops remained shut in Bhubaneswar on Thursday as several opposition parties called for Odisha bandh.
Several opposition parties have jointly called for a 12-hour Odisha bandh on Thursday, July 17, to protest against the death of a college student, who set herself on fire, alleging inaction by authorities over a harassment complaint against a professor.
The bandh was called by eight Opposition parties in Odisha, demanding justice for the student of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College. The bandh call is set to remain in place until 6 pm Today.
According to news agency ANI, transport services were hit and shops remained shut in Bhubaneswar on Thursday. A man who was waiting to board a bus in Bhubaneswar stated that people are facing transportation issues due to the state bandh, but added that the protest is necessary when the administration fails to act.
Security forces were deployed, and petrol pumps remained closed in Odisha's capital city as several opposition parties observed the state bandh.
The bandh also caused long traffic jams on the Chennai-Kolkata Highway, where trucks and other vehicles were left stranded. Bus services were impacted in different parts of the state.
Eight Opposition political parties, including the Congress, on Tuesday unitedly called for 'Odisha Bandh' on Thursday, July 17. They are demanding the resignation of the State Higher Education Minister and a judicial investigation in the demise of the student.
The 20-year-old student had allegedly faced prolonged sexual harassment by the Head of Department (HoD) at Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore. Despite filing a formal complaint and seeking help from the college principal, her grievances reportedly went unheard, leading her to take the extreme step on campus last Saturday.
She was initially admitted to the Balasore district hospital and later referred to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhubaneswar, where she succumbed to her burn injuries on July 14.
(With agency inputs)
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First Published:
July 17, 2025, 12:38 IST
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