Justice for Soumyashree: Odisha College Harassment Victim’s Story
Odisha FM College Student Suicide Incident – July 2025
A tragic incident took place at Fakir Mohan (FM) Autonomous College in Balasore, Odisha, this month. A young B.Ed student named Soumyashree Bisi, aged 20, accused her Head of Department of sexual harassment and submitted a written complaint on June 30, 2025. When she allegedly saw no action being taken by the college authorities, she took the extreme step of setting herself on fire inside the principal’s office on July 12, 2025. She suffered serious burns and was shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for treatment. Sadly, she passed away late on July 14, 2025.
Following the incident, Odisha police arrested the college principal and the accused teacher, and a special investigation was launched. The state government has announced ₹20 lakh compensation for her family, and political parties and student groups have protested strongly, calling for justice and institutional reforms to ensure student safety. This heartbreaking case has sparked nationwide debate about harassment complaints, accountability in colleges, and the need for better grievance redressal systems for students.
In the aftermath, both the principal and the accused teacher were arrested, and the state government ordered a high-level investigation. Odisha’s Chief Minister announced an ex-gratia of ₹20 lakh for her family, while widespread protests and political statements highlighted the urgent need for safer campuses and effective grievance mechanisms for students. This tragic episode has sparked a nationwide discussion on student rights, institutional accountability, and the fight against harassment in educational institutions.
Who was the victim?
She was a student at FM College and reportedly belonged to a poor family background.
Name: Soumyashree Bisi
Age: 20 years
Course: B.Ed. (Bachelor of Education)
Timeline of Events
- June 30, 2025:
Soumyashree submitted a written complaint to the college principal, alleging sexual harassment by her Head of Department (HOD), Samira Kumar Sahu. - July 12, 2025:
Frustrated over alleged inaction, she went to the principal’s office, poured kerosene on herself, and set herself ablaze.
She suffered over 90% burns. - July 12-14, 2025:
She was first treated in Balasore, then shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar in critical condition. - July 14, 2025 (late night):
Soumyashree passed away at AIIMS Bhubaneswar due to her injuries.
What actions were taken?
✅ Arrests:
- The principal, Dilip Ghose, and the accused teacher, Samira Kumar Sahu, were arrested by police for negligence and harassment.
✅ Investigations:
- Odisha Crime Branch took over the probe.
- The state Higher Education department sent a 3-member team to investigate lapses.
✅ Compensation:
- Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi announced ₹20 lakh ex-gratia for the victim’s family.
Reactions
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan visited the family and appealed to avoid politicization.
Widespread protests by students, opposition parties, and women’s groups erupted in Balasore and outside AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
Opposition parties, including Congress and BJD, accused the BJP-led state government of mishandling the case and suppressing evidence.
The Congress called for an Odisha Bandh on July 17, 2025.
Senior political leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Naveen Patnaik, criticized the system and demanded justice.
