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13 Jul 2025, 11:08 am

The self-immolation bid by Soumyashree Bisi, the BEd student of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College at Balasore, has snowballed into a huge controversy with the BJP government finding itself under attack from all sections for failing to prevent the unfortunate incident.

While the 20-year-old is battling for life after sustaining over 90 per cent burns, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi rushed to AIIMS-Bhubaneswar immediately on his return from Delhi to enquire about her condition.

After speaking to the doctors, the chief minister said he has instructed everybody to ensure best possible treatment for her. “The girl’s condition is extremely critical and does not permit her to be airlifted to AIIMS-Delhi. The next 24 hours are crucial. A team of specialists is treating her. Consultations with experts of AIIMS- Delhi is on virtually to guide further treatment,” he said.

“I have also spoken to the girl’s parents and assured them of full support. Strict action will be taken against those responsible for this incident. No one will be spared,” he said.

Majhi said the Higher Education department has already taken action against the teacher concerned and the principal of the college. We will ensure that such incidents are not repeated in any other educational institution,” he stated.

Bisi on Saturday had set herself afire on the college campus as her repeated complaints of sexual and mental harassment by her head of the department Samira Kumar Sahoo went unheeded by the authorities.

AIIMS- Bhubaneswar director Dr Ashutosh Biswas said she has sustained 90 to 95 per cent burn injuries and is on ventilator support. “Some of her internal organs have been severely affected due to the extent of the burns. A 10-member team comprising senior specialists from critical care, surgery, nephrology, pulmonology and anaesthesiology is closely monitoring the patient round-the-clock. Dialysis has been started and all interventions are on in consultation with AIIMS-Delhi experts,” said Dr Sanjay Kumar Giri, head of burn and plastic surgery department.

Meanwhile, a three-member probe team comprising director of higher education Kali Prasanna Mohapatra, joint secretary Higher Education department Mousumi Nayak and Professor Jhumki Rath of the BJB Autonomous College, Bhubaneswar, reached the college and started their probe into the circumstances which forced the girl to take the extreme step. “Action will be initiated based on the findings of the report,” CM Majhi said.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has also taken cognizance of the incident and sought a report from the state DGP. Condemning the incident, NCW chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar directed the DGP to ensure a fair and time-bound investigation and take strict action against Sahoo, the prime accused in the case. The commission asked the DGP to submit an action taken report within three days. 

Politics too boiled over the incident with the BJD and Congress demanding immediate resignation of the chief minister and Higher Education minister Suryabanshi Suraj. Coming down heavily on the state government for denying justice to the young girl and coming to her rescue in time, leader of opposition and BJD president Naveen Patnaik sought the intervention of Governor and chancellor of government universities Hari Babu Kambhampati.

Activists of Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BYJD) and Biju Chhatra Janata Dal staged a protest near the residence of the chief minister while members of Chhatra Congress made an attempt to gherao the residence of Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj. Police evacuated the protesters from both the spots.