Lok Seva Bhawan gherao over girl's death turns violent; several leaders injured

United News of India

16-07-2025

Bhubaneswar, July 16 (UNI) The Biju Janata Dal's (BJD) protest march to gherao the Lok Seva Bhawan over the death of Fakir Mohan Autonomous College student Soumyashree Bisi turned violent near Lower PMG Square today, leaving several party leaders and workers injured.
The agitation, organized to demand a judicial probe into the incident and the resignation of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Higher Education Minister Suryavanshi Suraj, saw heated confrontations between BJD workers and the police.
The Protesters held the government responsible for the alleged suicide of Soumyashree, a second-year B.Ed student, who succumbed to burn injuries at AIIMS Bhubaneswar on the night of July 15 following a self immolation attempt on July 12.
The police were forced to resort to the use of water cannons and tear gas to disperse hundreds of agitated party workers who broke through barricades and clashed with security personnel while attempting to march towards the state secretariat.
Soumyashree had reportedly attempted self-immolation on the college campus on July 12, sustaining 90 percent burn injuries alleging mental and sexual harassment by Assistant Professor Samir Ranjan Sahoo who was suspended and subsequently arrested.
The protest march, which included members of the BJD's student, youth, and women wings, began from Master Canteen Square. Holding placards and raising slogans, the protesters blamed the BJP-led state government for the tragedy and reiterated their demand for a judicial probe led by a sitting judge.
Tensions escalated when demonstrators broke through the first police barricade and attempted to breach a second near Lower PMG Square. Clashes erupted, turning the area into a battleground. Despite repeated warnings, the agitators refused to retreat, prompting a stronger police response.
Former BJD MLAs Pranab Prakash Das and Pritiranjan Ghadei were among those injured in the violence. Several women leaders of the party also sustained injuries during the clash. Police later detained hundreds of BJD leaders and workers who staged a sit-in, refusing to vacate the area.
Simultaneously, the BJD observed an eight-hour bandh in Balasore district from 6 am to 2 pm, pressing for a judicial inquiry. The bandh disrupted normal life- shops, offices, and educational institutions remained shut, and vehicular movement was severely affected. BJD activists also staged 'rail roko' protests at Soro and Balasore railway stations, disrupting train services.
The Odisha government has already ordered a Crime Branch investigation into the incident and announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 20 lakh to the family of the deceased student. Both FM College Principal Dillip Ghosh and Assistant Professor Samir Ranjan Sahoo have been suspended and arrested in connection with the case.
In addition, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has constituted a four-member fact-finding committee headed by Professor Raj Mithal, with members Sushama Yadav, Nirja Gupta, and Asima Mangala. The panel has been directed to submit its report within a week.
Meanwhile, the Congress and seven other Opposition parties- including the Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and various Left parties- have jointly called for a statewide Odisha Bandh on July 17. They are also demanding the resignation of the Chief Minister and the Higher Education Minister, and a judicial inquiry led by a sitting judge.
BJD President Naveen Patnaik has strongly condemned the police's "brutal and inhuman attack" on the party leaders and workers during the Lokseva Bhawan Ghearo agitation.
Patnaik described such police brutality on peaceful protesters as barbaric.
He said in this incident, many BJD workers and common people were injured. He expressed grief over the news of injuries in the attack.
The BJD supremo spoke to MP Sulata Deo, former minister Pranab Prakash Das, and Prithi Ranjan Ghadei, who were injured in the police attack, over the phone, inquired about their health and wished them a speedy recovery.
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