Statewide Bandh in Odisha on July 17 Over Student’s Death Amid Harassment Allegations

Bhubaneswar: The tragic death of 20-year-old Soumyashree Bisi, a student of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore, has triggered a wave of public outrage across Odisha, culminating in the announcement of a statewide bandh on July 17. The Odisha Congress, leading the protest, has termed the incident a “systemic failure” and an “institutional murder,” demanding immediate accountability and reforms.

Soumyashree, a second-year integrated B.Ed. student, succumbed to severe burn injuries at AIIMS Bhubaneswar late Monday night. She had attempted self-immolation on July 12 within the college campus — a desperate act allegedly in response to inaction on her sexual harassment complaint against the Head of the Department, Samir Kumar Sahu.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das accused the state government of negligence. “This is not just a case of suicide; it is a clear case of institutional murder. The system failed her — from college authorities to the administration. Her voice was silenced,” he said.

Das further alleged political apathy, stating, “She was associated with the ABVP, and perhaps that’s why the BJP-led government chose to ignore her pleas. There was complete administrative indifference.”

The Congress bandh call has received backing from eight other political outfits, including the Left parties and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The protest is expected to bring the state to a standstill on Wednesday, with markets, schools, colleges, and government offices likely to remain closed.

Soumyashree had earlier staged a sit-in protest outside the principal’s office, seeking justice and action against the accused. Following her death, Sahadevkhunta Police arrested HoD Samir Kumar Sahu under Sections 108 (abetment to suicide) and 75(1)(iii) (sexual harassment) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The college principal, Dilip Ghosh, who had already been suspended, was also arrested on Monday.

The incident has sparked a broader movement, with student unions, civil society organizations, and women’s rights groups staging protests and candlelight vigils across the state. Activists have demanded a judicial inquiry, protection for student whistleblowers, and urgent institutional reforms to prevent such tragedies in educational spaces.