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The political turmoil in Odisha intensified as both the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Indian National Congress formally requested to meet President Droupadi Murmu during her two-day state visit, to discuss the tragic self-immolation attempt by a female student of Fakir Mohan Autonomous College, Balasore.
The victim, Soumyashree Bisi, a B.Ed student, had reportedly faced sexual harassment from her department’s Head, Samir Kumar Sahu. Despite lodging complaints with multiple authorities—including the Chief Minister and Union Education Minister—her pleas for justice allegedly went unheard.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday, senior BJD leader Tukuni Sahu stated that this incident reflects a broader pattern of deteriorating women’s safety and student welfare under the current BJP-led state government.
“This is not an isolated incident,” Sahu said. “Over the past 13 months, the situation has worsened for women and students. The government’s inaction is alarming. We have officially emailed a request to meet the President to raise these concerns.”
The BJD has expressed strong suspicion about the state administration’s role in the handling of Soumyashree’s case, claiming official apathy and negligence forced the student to take the extreme step.
Congress Slams College & Police for Insensitivity
In a separate appeal, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Bhakta Charan Das, along with other senior leaders including Niranjan Patnaik, Jaydev Jena, Prasad Harichandan, Sarat Patnaik, and former Union Minister Srikanta Jena, have also sought time with the President.
Das alleged that Soumyashree suffered “severe sexual harassment” and was repeatedly ignored by the college administration, police officials, and political leadership, despite her efforts to seek help.
“This callousness is condemnable,” Das wrote in his letter. “We are requesting the Hon’ble President to spare just five minutes during her visit to receive our memorandum on this grave issue.”
Demand for Justice Echoes Across Odisha
The incident has sparked widespread outrage across Odisha, with student groups, women’s rights activists, and opposition parties demanding an impartial investigation and strict action against the accused.
President Droupadi Murmu, who began her two-day Odisha tour on July 14, is expected to attend several official functions in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Security arrangements have been tightened in light of the developments.
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