Balaram Bishi, father of 20-year-old Soumyashree Bishi, a B.Ed student at Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore, Odisha, has accused the college’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) of negligence that he claims led to his daughter’s self-immolation and death. Soumyashree, who suffered 95% burns after setting herself on fire on July 12, 2025, succumbed to her injuries late Monday at AIIMS Bhubaneswar. Her father alleges the ICC’s inaction on her sexual harassment complaint against Assistant Professor Samir Kumar Sahu drove her to the extreme act.

Soumyashree had filed a complaint on July 1, accusing Sahu of soliciting sexual favors and threatening her academic record. Days before her death, she posted on X, “If I don’t get justice, I will commit suicide,” tagging government and student union leaders. Bishi told NDTV, “The principal, the HOD, the education department, and the internal committee members tortured my daughter. They threatened an FIR against me unless we withdrew the complaint.” He claims Sahu formed a student group to target her, and Principal Dilip Ghose pressured her to retract her allegations.

The incident has sparked nationwide outrage, with protests by the Biju Chhatra Janata Dal and demands for a CBI probe. Rahul Gandhi called it “an organized murder by the BJP system,” alleging systemic protection of the accused. Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi announced a ₹20 lakh ex gratia payment and vowed strict punishment, with Sahu and Ghose arrested for abetment of suicide and criminal intimidation. The Higher Education Department suspended both, and a three-member committee is investigating. Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati and President Droupadi Murmu expressed grief, emphasizing campus safety reforms.

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