New Delhi: The tragic death of Soumya Sridhar, a 20-year-old B.Ed student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore, Odisha, has sent shockwaves through the state and sparked widespread outrage. Sridhar succumbed to her injuries after setting herself on fire on campus, following repeated allegations of sexual harassment by Samir Kumar Sahu, head of the education department at her college.
Her desperate act highlights a systemic failure to address sexual harassment complaints within educational institutions. Despite repeated pleas to college authorities, her complaints remained unaddressed. Further compounding the tragedy, both Sridhar herself and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), wrote letters demanding an investigation and action against the accused professor. These appeals, however, were ignored.
The ensuing public outcry has been immense. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Odisha’s ruling party, called for a district-wide bandh in Balasore, bringing the district to a standstill. The Indian National Congress organised candlelight vigils to express solidarity and demand justice for Sridhar. The intensity of public anger reflects deep-seated concerns about women’s safety and the inadequacy of institutional mechanisms to address sexual harassment.
Adding to the growing calls for accountability, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has intervened, ordering a fact-finding probe into the incident. A four-member committee has been constituted to investigate the allegations and determine the extent of institutional failure. Sridhar’s father has openly alleged murder, directly blaming the college for failing to protect his daughter.
The protests, while largely peaceful, have witnessed instances of violence. Clashes between protesters and police have been reported in Balasore, highlighting the raw emotions surrounding the case. The incident underscores the urgent need for improved mechanisms to prevent sexual harassment in educational institutions and to ensure that complaints are promptly investigated and acted upon. The lack of timely response and appropriate action in Sridhar’s case has resulted in a tragic loss of life and a wider call for systemic reform.
