Bhubaneswar: The Nabarangpur district unit of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has called a 12-hour bandh in Raighar on Monday to protest the death of a B.Sc. Nursing student who allegedly died by suicide after harassment.
The bandh will be observed from 6 am to 6 pm. The party has demanded compensation for the victim’s family.
According to reports, the second-year B.Sc. Nursing student in Jeypore, consumed pesticide on July 17. She had allegedly faced repeated harassment from a youth, Satyajit Sarkar, of a neighbouring village. Sarkar was reportedly in a one-sided relationship with her and had troubled her several times.
On July 13, while shopping in Jeypore, she was allegedly assaulted by Sarkar in public. She approached the police, but the matter was settled informally. On July 15, she lodged an FIR against him. No immediate action was taken.
Sarkar later allegedly circulated photographs of her and her boyfriend, leading to fears of public humiliation.
After consuming pesticide, she was treated at a local hospital and shifted to a private facility in Raipur. On July 21, she was brought back to Umerkote hospital and later referred to AIIMS Bhubaneswar. She died during treatment on August 9.
Following the family’s complaint, police have arrested Sarkar and another youth accused of circulating the photographs.
