Bhubaneswar: Odisha Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari on Monday hinted that the state government may take action by this evening in connection with the tragic death of Soumyashree Bisi, a student of Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore.
“Once the Chief Minister returns from the President’s program, action may be taken by this evening,” he said after a high-level review meeting.
Pujari described the incident as “deeply painful and disturbing” and assured that the government is determined to ensure justice for the victim and her family. The review meeting, attended by both Deputy Chief Ministers and key legislators, assessed the progress of the investigation and discussed further steps.
The Revenue Minister made it clear that the investigation would not stop at the principal or the head of the department of the college.
“Anyone responsible for creating the circumstances that led to the student’s death will be brought under the ambit of the probe,” he said. The government’s objective, he emphasised, is singular: justice.
Responding to demands from the opposition for a judicial inquiry, Pujari criticised the track record of the previous government, alleging that many such inquiries resulted in neither reports nor action.
“We’re reviewing everything that has been done so far and will decide the next course of action after the CM’s return,” he added.
Legislators, including Babu Singh, Irasis Acharya, Tankadhar Tripathy and Akash Das Nayak, were present during the meeting.
Soumyashree Bisi, a college student, had poured petrol on herself on July 12 and set herself ablaze, accusing sexual harassment by the Head of the Department of Education of FM College, Samira Kumar Sahu. With 95% burns, she was first taken to the District Headquarters Hospital in Balasore and then shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
Despite 60 hours of round-the-clock efforts by a team of 10 specialists and continuous consultations with AIIMS Delhi, she succumbed to her injuries.
Her final rites were held at the Palasia crematorium in Bhogarai block, Balasore. The village, overwhelmed with grief, witnessed a massive turnout as thousands gathered for her funeral.
