BALASORE/BHUBANESWAR: Odisha police on Monday arrested the suspended principal of a government-run college in Balasore after a 20-year-old student set herself ablaze Saturday over alleged administrative neglect in addressing her complaints of sexual harassment against a senior faculty member.
The student is battling 90% burns at AIIMS Bhubaneswar. Doctors said her condition is critical and unchanged since admission.
President Droupadi Murmu visited the burns unit to check on the student's condition and met her family. "She is on ventilator support in ICU. We told the President that the hospital is providing her the best treatment available," said Dr Ashutosh Biswas, executive director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar. Murmu was in Bhubaneswar for AIIMS's 5th convocation.
Medical superintendent Dr Dillip Kumar Parida said there is "no improvement" in her condition. "We can say she is critical and stable. Her condition is the same as when she arrived. The next 72 hours remain crucial," he said.
The student allegedly endured months of harassment and academic threats from a faculty member. She doused herself in petrol and set herself on fire outside the college gate Saturday noon. The assistant professor she accused has been arrested and charged under multiple sections of BNS, including sexual harassment.
DIG Satyajit Nayak said the college principal has been charged with abetment of suicide.
As the young woman's life hangs in the balance, her cousin demanded accountability. "Those responsible should not be spared. Proper investigation is needed in my sister's case," he said, standing vigil at the hospital.
Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan visited the hospital Monday, met the family, and urged people not to politicise the tragedy. "The priority is to save the student's life. Police are doing their job. No one will be spared," he said.
The case has ignited widespread outrage. BJD and Congress workers held demonstrations in Balasore and Bhubaneswar, accusing BJP government of failing to act in time. Congress's Alka Lamba called out state government for "inaction" in addressing sexual harassment complaints in educational institutions.
Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, who also serves as chancellor of state universities, has sought a detailed report from the government on the sequence of events that led to the girl's suicide attempt.
(Inputs from Ashok Pradhan)
The student is battling 90% burns at AIIMS Bhubaneswar. Doctors said her condition is critical and unchanged since admission.
President Droupadi Murmu visited the burns unit to check on the student's condition and met her family. "She is on ventilator support in ICU. We told the President that the hospital is providing her the best treatment available," said Dr Ashutosh Biswas, executive director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar. Murmu was in Bhubaneswar for AIIMS's 5th convocation.
Medical superintendent Dr Dillip Kumar Parida said there is "no improvement" in her condition. "We can say she is critical and stable. Her condition is the same as when she arrived. The next 72 hours remain crucial," he said.
The student allegedly endured months of harassment and academic threats from a faculty member. She doused herself in petrol and set herself on fire outside the college gate Saturday noon. The assistant professor she accused has been arrested and charged under multiple sections of BNS, including sexual harassment.
DIG Satyajit Nayak said the college principal has been charged with abetment of suicide.
As the young woman's life hangs in the balance, her cousin demanded accountability. "Those responsible should not be spared. Proper investigation is needed in my sister's case," he said, standing vigil at the hospital.
Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan visited the hospital Monday, met the family, and urged people not to politicise the tragedy. "The priority is to save the student's life. Police are doing their job. No one will be spared," he said.
The case has ignited widespread outrage. BJD and Congress workers held demonstrations in Balasore and Bhubaneswar, accusing BJP government of failing to act in time. Congress's Alka Lamba called out state government for "inaction" in addressing sexual harassment complaints in educational institutions.
Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, who also serves as chancellor of state universities, has sought a detailed report from the government on the sequence of events that led to the girl's suicide attempt.
(Inputs from Ashok Pradhan)
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