FM College girl student’s self-immolation bid: LoP Naveen Patnaik seeks Governor’s intervention; action after probe, says Minister

The case of the girl student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore who attempted self-immolation has sparked a sharp political and administrative response.

With the victim student still in critical condition at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, Leader of Opposition (LoP) Naveen Patnaik has written to Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, seeking his intervention in the matter, even as the government reiterated that strong action would follow the official inquiry.

Naveen Patnaik’s Letter to Governor Urges Institutional Justice

In a strongly worded post on X, LoP Naveen Patnaik urged the Odisha Governor in his capacity as Chancellor of state universities, to ensure that justice is delivered to the victim.

“For months, she lived in fear and anguish. On July 1, in a desperate plea for help, she posted her grievance on social media, tagging several top officials. But with no action forthcoming, she tragically resorted to setting herself on fire, right outside the principal’s chamber, in a final attempt to end her suffering.

This tragic incident lays bare the stark reality of how she was denied justice, despite repeatedly voicing her grievances from the College Principal to the Higher Education Minister and right up to the Union Minister and the Chief Minister,” the post read.

The letter comes in the wake of disturbing revelations by the student’s father and fellow classmates, who alleged prolonged harassment by a senior faculty member and pressure from college authorities to withdraw her complaint.

Government Response: Action After Probe, Assures Minister

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Odisha Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj informed that a three-member high-level inquiry Committee has been sent to Balasore.

“The team has begun its investigation. Once the report is submitted, strict action will follow. There will be no leniency,” he said, adding that the Odisha government is treating the matter with the seriousness it deserves.

The Committee, comprising senior officials including the Higher Education Director and faculty from BJB College, is examining the sequence of events, institutional response, and allegations of procedural lapses.

Arrests and Disciplinary Action So Far

Following the public outrage, the Odisha government has suspended FM College Principal Dillip Ghosh and Education HOD Sameer Kumar Sahoo. Sahoo has also been arrested and remains in custody.

Initial reports suggest that the internal complaint mechanism at the college may have lacked impartiality, with no student representation and alleged bias in favour of the accused. These structural failures are now under scrutiny by the government’s inquiry panel.