Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Tuesday announced a candlelight rally this evening and a gherao of Lok Seva Bhawan on July 16 (Tomorrow), protesting the death of 20-year-old Soumyashree Bisi, a B.Ed student of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore, who succumbed to burn injuries following an alleged self-immolation bid on campus.
Senior BJD leader Debi Prasad Mishra informed that the party is demanding a judicial inquiry by a sitting High Court judge. The BJD has also sought the resignation of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, holding them morally accountable for the incident.
Soumyashree had reportedly set herself ablaze on July 12 in front of the principal’s chamber, accusing the Head of the Education Department Samir Kumar Sahu, of sexual harassment and alleging institutional inaction.
She sustained over 90–95% burn injuries and was initially treated at Balasore Medical College before being shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar. Despite critical care support, including mechanical ventilation and renal replacement therapy, she was declared dead at 11:46 pm on July 14.
Meanwhile, the Odisha Pradesh Youth Congress staged a protest near Ram Mandir Square in Bhubaneswar. Party workers burned effigies of the CM and Education Minister, accusing them of failing to act on the student’s complaint.
