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NDTV
3 days ago
- NDTV
Odisha College Horror Victim's Friend Reveals Months Of Abuse, Harassment
Bhubaneswar: The 20-year-old student in Odisha who set herself on fire, alleging sexual harassment by her college professor, had confided in her friends about what she was going through months before her death. According to a friend of the victim, who spoke to NDTV, the Fakir Mohan College student had been experiencing mental and academic harassment by her Head of Department, Samir Kumar Sahu, for several months. "A few months ago, she confided in me that she was being harassed by her HoD. She revealed that the HOD was deliberately failing her and refusing to clear her backlogs. At that time, she did not want me or anyone else to intervene. However, on June 30th, she gathered us to confront the principal and demand serious action against the HoD, as she was being harassed in class. She told us that the HoD had misbehaved with her in front of others and had blackmailed her, threatening to trap her in this situation at the college for six long years," the friend told NDTV. According to the friend, on June 30, the student, who was in her second year of the integrated course, attempted to mobilise support among her classmates. She wanted a group of them to jointly approach the college principal and demand action against the HoD. The students approached Fakir Mohan College principal Dilip Ghose that day. "The principal said decision-making is a process and asked for more time," the friend said. Twelve days later, the situation escalated. The student again wanted to approach the principal to push for a resolution. However, the campus was crowded due to ongoing admissions. During a 20-minute lunch break, she was left briefly alone. "During lunchtime, we left the campus for about 20 minutes, and in that short time, we received a call informing us that she had been provoked to undergo an 'Agni Pariksha'. I use this term because I believe the principal must have said something that deeply hurt her, pushing her to take such a drastic step. She was completely broken, drained, and exhausted from fighting for justice," the friend told NDTV. The student poured petrol on herself and set herself ablaze outside the principal's office. A fellow student, Jyotiranjan Biswal, attempted to rescue her and suffered 15 per cent burn injuries. The victim, however, sustained 95 per cent burns and died on July 14 at AIIMS Bhubaneswar. According to the friend's account, after the initial complaint against Sahu, the HoD allegedly mobilised the support of nearly 300 students to defend himself, while only 15-20 students stood by the victim. "The HoD manipulated around 300 students to support him. He persuaded nearly 100 students to turn against her. As an active member of the ABVP, she was used as a political tool before the upcoming elections. These students assassinated her character, writing an application to the principal that questioned her integrity and raised accusations against her. Ironically, the same opposition now speaks of justice," the friend told NDTV. Two college officials -- HoD Samir Kumar Sahu and principal Dilip Ghose -- have been arrested on charges including abetment to suicide, sexual harassment, stalking, and outraging the modesty of a woman. Separately, the state government has formed a three-member inquiry panel to probe the case.
News18
5 days ago
- News18
'It Was Her Agni Pariksha': Friend Reveals How Trolling Crushed Balasore Victim's Spirit
Last Updated: The woman said the principal was approached several times to act against the HoD but he, instead, warned the victim of consequences if she failed to prove her complaint The 20-year-old BEd student of Balasore's Fakir Mohan Autonomous College, who set herself on fire over the alleged harassment by her HoD and assistant professor Samir Kumar Sahu, approached her principal several times to share her ordeal but did not get a favourable response. The apathy was revealed by the victim's close friend, who, in an interview with CNN-News18, said: 'The principal asked for some time and took 7–8 days but did nothing. In fact, he warned the victim of consequences if she failed to prove her complaint," she said. The victim's friend said she was trolled by juniors, who called her a 'bad girl" on social media and campus and assassinated her character. 'On June 30, us friends accompanied her for support. She had gone to the principal earlier too, but wasn't heard. On June 30, we all went with her to demand action. The principal asked for 7-8 days but did nothing. The HoD instigated students to defame her." The woman said the victim was 'used as a political tool by opposition student union NSUI" and those showing sympathy now were the same who tarnished her image. Sharing details of the fateful day when the woman self-immolated, her friend said: 'She looked okay and calm in the morning. The fact that she couldn't provide proof pushed her to take the extreme step; it was her Agni Pariksha. However, when we returned from lunch, we saw what she had done. The shaming crushed her spirit. She felt isolated, unheard, and humiliated and took the drastic step." The woman said the fight for justice would not end with the victim's death. 'She did not burn alone—all of us are burning with her today. She taught us that we must always fight for the rights of girls." THE CASE Shocking details of the case have come to the fore after the victim's death, including the apathy of the college administration as well as pressure from some of her own peers who supported the accused. The student, in her complaint to the college's Internal Complaint Committee (ICC) on July 1, had mentioned that the professor had asked for a 'favour" from her, refusal of which invited mental harassment. 'When she (the student) asked him what kind of favour, Sahoo allegedly said, 'You are not a child to not understand what favour I need'," Minati Sethi, a member of the ICC, told a news portal. Upset over being unable to prove her allegations, the student set herself ablaze shortly after coming out of the principal's chamber. She suffered 95 per cent burns and was first admitted to the Balasore District Headquarters Hospital. Later, she was shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for advanced treatment. The accused professor and the principal of the college were arrested in connection with the case. The University Grants Commission has set up a four-member fact-finding team to look into the incident. view comments First Published: July 17, 2025, 08:58 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
5 days ago
- News18
'Malicious Campaign Against My Sister': Balasore Victim's Brother Files FIR
The woman's family has demanded strict action and police protection, warning that if they do not get justice, they will be forced to take extreme steps, including death by suicide. Earlier in the day, the crime branch took over the probe into the woman's death by suicide at Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore. On July 12, the second-year BEd student had set herself on fire outside the principal's office during a protest on campus over allegedly being denied justice over sexual harassment by her head of department (HoD). Director General of Police, CID-CB, Vinaytosh Mishra, in an order deputed DSP Iman Kalyan Nayak of Crime Against Women and Children Wing (CAW&CW), Bhubaneswar, to take up the probe and such other cases registered in that connection. 'DSP, Iman Kalyan Nayak of CAW &CW, Bhubaneswar will have the powers to function as Officer-in-Charge of Balasore district Sahadevkhunta Police Station for the purpose of investigation of this case," Mishra said, adding that Inspector Panchali Rout will assist Nayak. The police have already arrested prime accused Samira Kumar Sahoo, the HoD accused of sexual harassment by the student, and Dillip Ghose, the former principal of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College. They were booked under sections 108/3 (5) (abetment), 351 (2) (criminal intimidation), 75 (1) (iii), which deals with sexual harassment and sections 78 and 79 that deal with stalking and insulting the modesty of a woman. Section 108/3(5) of BNS deals with abetment of suicide under which a person can get a maximum of 10 years imprisonment. After a meeting of ministers on Tuesday, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari had indicated that the state government would expand the ambit of investigation and all persons who are directly or indirectly linked to the harassment of the college student would come under the purview of investigation. 'Though two persons have so far been arrested in the case, there are about 20 people found directly or indirectly harassing the woman student. All will come under the purview of the probe," Pujari said.
India Gazette
13-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Institutional apathy, criminal complicity": Pawan Khera slams "Double Engine Sarkar" on Balasore self-immolation case
New Delhi [India], July 13 (ANI): Congress leader Pawan Khera on Sunday slammed the 'Double Engine Sarkar' highlighting the institutional apathy and criminal complicity after a young woman in Odisha was driven to self-immolation facing relentless sexual harassment by her college Head of Department (HoD). He said that despite her repeated pleas for help, including to the Principal, Internal Complaints Committee, and even the Chief Minister and Education Minister on social media, her complaints fell on deaf ears. A student of the Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Odisha's Balasore was admitted to the AIIMS Bhubaneswar hospital on July 12 after she allegedly self-immolated. Khera stressed that the victim's complaints were ignored, and even a BJP MP's demand for the HoD's suspension was brushed aside by the college Principal. 'A BJP MP had demanded the HoD's suspension but even he was brushed aside - by the college Principal. As such, it is safe to call the Double Engine Sarkar a cruel joke. Because it does not even empower a local MP from the ruling party enough to prevail over a college Principal in a matter so crucial and sensitive', Pawan Khera's 'X' post read. BJP MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi on Saturday informed that he was told about the matter by the woman and her friends, following which he spoke to the college principal and the Superintendent of Police of Balasore. Sarangi said that the woman had attempted suicide before as well, and when he heard the news, the BJP MP said he called the college principal, but there was no response. 'It is a national tragedy that a young woman in Odisha was forced to set herself on fire after facing relentless sexual harassment by her college HoD. She pleaded for help - informally to the Principal, formally to the Internal Complaints Committee, and publicly to the CM and Education Minister on social media. Yet, her complaints went unheard', Pawan Khera wrote on 'X'. Pawan Khera termed the incident a 'criminal complicity' and demanded strict action against the accused, HoD, and others involved in the Balasore self-immolation case. 'This is institutional apathy but even more, it is criminal complicity. The culprit, HoD must face the law for driving a woman to self-immolation, but the Principal and the ICC must also be held accountable - not merely for negligence, but for abutment', Khera wrote on 'X'. Pawan Khera claimed that the victim was an Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad office bearer in a BJP ruled state and mentioned that if this is the 'fate' of their 'own woman' what can ordinary women do with no access to networks of power. 'Notably, the victim was an ABVP office bearer in a BJP-ruled state. If this is the fate of their own, what can ordinary women - with no access to networks of power - in Odisha, and beyond, possibly expect?', Khera added. Earlier today AIIMS Bhubaneswar, Director Dr Ashutosh Biswas assured that the medical team is providing the best possible care to the patient of the Balasore self-immolation case. The student was admitted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar with severe burns, covering almost 90-95% of her body. She is currently on a ventilator in the ICU, and her condition is critical. 'Yesterday, we received the patient in critical condition. The patient is on a ventilator in the ICU. She has almost 90-95 per cent burns. The patient is critical, we are trying our best. We are providing the best possible care to the patient. A committee has been formed to look after various aspects, multi-disciplinary critical care...,' Dr Biswas told ANI. Balasore Police on Saturday arrested the accused in the FM (Auto) College female student self-immolation attempt case and produced her before the court. Meanwhile, the Odisha government have formed a committee to conduct a thorough inquiry into the alleged harassment case against Samira Kumar Sahu, Assistant Professor at FM Auto College, who has been arrested following the suicide attempt by a female student of the college on July 12. (ANI)
India Gazette
12-07-2025
- General
- India Gazette
"Pilots did everything right": Captain Umang N Jani on AI 171's crash report
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], July 12 (ANI): Captain Umang N Jani, Head of Department (HoD) Aviation at Indus University, on Saturday said that the pilots of the crashed Boeing 787-8 Air India flight 171 did 'everything right' by attempting to restart the engines. He said that the preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) mentions that the fuel switch was at the 'run' position. 'The pilot did everything right. It is part of the training that when engines fail, you attempt to restart them. The report also suggests that the fuel switch is in the run position. This aircraft has an FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) system in place. When you start the engine, there is a complete sequence that needs to be followed, and this system automatically follows this entire sequence,' Captain Jani told ANI. He informed that the engines stop working when the fuel supply stops, which makes such types of incidents possible. He said that the fuel switch is situated on the throttle quadrant in the aircraft, which was found to be in the 'run' position, indicating that the pilot tried to restart the engine. 'It mentions fuel cutoff. When the fuel supply stops, both engines stop working, and then the type of incident that happened is possible. If I talk about the throttle quadrant, there is a fuel cutoff switch here. In the crash, it has been found that the fuel switch was in the 'run' position. It seems that the pilot tried to restart the engine. This process of whether to supply fuel to the engine is controlled manually from the cockpit,' Jani added. 'Generally, the fuel switch is not put on cutoff after takeoff. This is done in two situations: normal and emergency. You put the switch on cutoff once the aircraft has landed and parked during normal times,' he stated. The Captain said that further investigation was required into the flight crash. 'This is a preliminary report. Now, there may be further investigation and the final report that will come, it is possible that we may get to see more information and more details in it,' Jani said. The AAIB's Preliminary Report, released on Friday, said that both the engines of the aircraft were moved from 'run' to 'cutoff' in quick succession, which resulted in the fuel supply being cut off. The report says that in the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why he did the cutoff, which the other pilot denied ever doing so. 'The aircraft achieved the maximum recorded airspeed of 180 Knots IAS at about 08:08:42 UTC, and immediately thereafter, the Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of 01 sec. The Engine N1 and N2 began to decrease from their take-off values as the fuel supply to the engines was cut off,' the preliminary report said. 'In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why he cut off. The other pilot responded that he did not do so,' the report added. As per the Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder (EAFR) accessed by the AAIB, engine 1's fuel cut switch transitioned from 'cutoff' to 'run' at about 8:08:52 UTC (Coordinated Universal Time), and at 8:08:56 UTC, Engine 2's fuel switch also went from 'cutoff' to run'. According to the report, just 13 seconds later, at 8:09:05 UTC, one of the pilots transmitted the Mayday call, which the Air Traffic Control Officer (ATCO) enquired about, but did not receive a reply. Shortly after, the aircraft was observed crashing outside the airport boundary, and the emergency response was activated. The Airline Pilots' Association of India on Saturday also called for a 'fair, fact-based inquiry,' into the incident and rejected the 'tone and direction of the investigation' which suggested a bias towards pilot error. 'The report was leaked to the media without any responsible official signature or attribution. There is a lack of transparency in investigations as investigations continue to be shrouded in secrecy, undermining credibility and public trust. Qualified, experienced personnel, especially line pilots, are still not being included in the investigation team,' the association said in a statement. Notably, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol urged people not to draw conclusions based on the preliminary report. While speaking to mediapersons, the MoS said, 'The AAIB has brought out a preliminary report. This is not the final report. Until the final report comes out, we should not arrive at any conclusion. AAIB is an autonomous authority, and the ministry does not interfere in their work.' (ANI)
