A tragic and deeply disturbing incident has shaken Balasore, Odisha, as a 20-year-old student, Somyashree sahu, lost her life on July 15th at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, after setting herself on fire due to alleged sexual harassment and the subsequent inaction of college authorities. Her death, following 60 agonizing hours battling severe burns, has ignited widespread public outrage and demands for justice.
Somyashree sahu , a second-year Integrated B.Ed. student at Fakir Mohan College, Balasore, had reportedly endured persistent sexual exploitation by her department’s HOD, Sameer Kumar Sahu. In a courageous act, she formally complained to the college principal, Dilip Kumar Khoj, seeking redress. However, instead of addressing the grave allegations, the principal allegedly pressured somyashree sahu to retract her complaint. This disheartening response from the college administration left her feeling abandoned and without recourse within the institution.
Undeterred, somyashree sahu escalated her plea for help, reaching out to higher authorities. She lodged complaints with the District Magistrate (DM) and the Superintendent of Police (SP), appealing to her local Member of Parliament (MP) and even the Education Minister. She attempted to bring her plight to the attention of the Chief Minister himself, desperately seeking intervention. Yet, despite her persistent efforts and multiple appeals to various levels of governance, her cries for help seemingly fell on deaf ears. The systemic failure to acknowledge and act upon her serious allegations pushed somyashree sahu to a desperate and irreversible act.
On July 12th, in a horrifying culmination of her despair, somyashree sahu set herself ablaze on the college campus. She sustained severe burns, covering 90% of her body. Initially admitted to the District Hospital of Balasore, her critical condition necessitated a transfer to AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
Aftermath and Arrests
It was only after this tragic self-immolation that law enforcement finally sprang into action. Both the accused professor, Sameer Kumar Sahu, and the college principal, Dilip Kumar Khoj, were promptly arrested and subsequently sent to jail. The gravity of the situation also drew the attention of the nation’s highest office, with President Droupadi Murmu visiting Somyashree at AIIMS Bhubaneswar to express her condolences and meet with the grieving family.
despite the belated interventions, somyashree sahu succumbed to her injuries on July 15th at 11:46 AM, marking a devastating end to her struggle. Her death, after fighting for her life for 60 hours, has sparked an outpouring of anger and grief across Odisha and beyond.
Public Outcry and Political Reactions about somyashree sahu case
The tragic demise of somyashree sahu has fueled widespread public protests and ignited a political firestorm. Opposition parties, including the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Congress, swiftly condemned the incident, holding the ruling BJP government responsible for the failure to protect the student and ensure justice.
The simmering anger boiled over as somyashree sahu’s body was brought out of AIIMS Bhubaneswar. Workers from the BJD and Congress staged demonstrations outside the hospital, creating a commotion. Simultaneously, BJP workers present at the scene engaged in counter-sloganeering, further escalating tensions. The situation became so volatile that the police struggled to control the agitated crowds and were ultimately forced to resort to a lathi charge to disperse the protesters.
somyashree sahu Family’s Unbearable Loss
For somyashree sahu’s family, the loss is immeasurable and heart-wrenching. Her parents are grappling with an unimaginable grief, struggling to comprehend that their bright and talented daughter is no longer with them. Her father, in a poignant statement, shared that somyashree sahu was not only exceptional in her academics but also excelled in extracurricular activities.
He spoke of a lifelong wound that her absence has inflicted, a wound that will never heal. He expressed a profound hope that a thorough and impartial investigation will be conducted, ensuring that all those responsible for his daughter’s untimely death receive the harshest possible punishment under the law.
somyashree sahu death stands as a stark reminder of the urgent need for robust mechanisms to address sexual harassment in educational institutions and the critical importance of ensuring that complaints are taken seriously and acted upon promptly, to prevent such devastating tragedies from recurring.
