Odisha undergraduate girl student's self-immolation bid following sexual harassment: College Principal arrested, Governor seeks report
While controversy over the unsavory incident is not showing signs of dying down, Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati has sought a report from the state government on the circumstances which drove the college student to resort to self-immolation.
The Governor has sought a report on steps taken to address the situation.
Principal of the college Dilip Ghosh has been arrested for alleged complicity in the incident, which forced the girl to end her life. The role of the principal in not bringing the matter to the notice of police amounts to suppression of crime committed against a young girl and is a penal offence under BNS.
After prima facie evidence was found against Ghosh, he is placed under arrest and will be later forwarded to court, said a police official.
Demand for Ghosh's arrest was being raised by the student community and family of the victim.
The Government had earlier suspended the principal for allegedly covering up the girl's complaint and not ensuring justice to her.
Accused Sameer Kumar Sahoo, Assistant professor, Education department, who allegedly sought sexual favour from the victim and threatened to sabotage her academic career, was arrested on Saturday last- the day when the victim poured petrol to self-immolate in front of the principal office.
Meanwhile, the health condition of the victim girl, who suffered over 90 percent burn injury, is stated to be extremely critical.
In a related development, Governor Kambhampati acting on Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly Naveen Patnaik's plea for governor's intervention has sought a report from the government on the unfortunate incident, which has triggered statewide condemnation.
'Spoke to Higher Education Minister Shri Suryabanshi Suraj (@suryabanshibjp) regarding the unfortunate incident involving the girl student of FM (Autonomous) College, Balasore, who is currently undergoing treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar. I sought details about the circumstances that led to the incident and the steps being taken to address the situation,' Governor Kambhampati stated in a post on X.
The unsavory episode, which brought to the fore unsafe campus environs for girl students in higher educational institutions, severely damaged the government's image keeping in view the fact the State has witnessed spurt in crimes against women during the one-year-old BJP government in Odisha.
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