Bhubaneswar: The Odisha unit of the Congress party on Thursday observed a one-minute silent prayer across the state, demanding justice for the 20-year-old B.Ed student from FM College, Balasore, who died after setting herself ablaze on campus earlier this month.
The symbolic act of remembrance was held at the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) headquarters in Bhubaneswar and at various locations, including educational institutions and party offices across the state.
OPCC President Bhakta Charan Das later attended a ‘Shradhanjali Sabha’ held in front of Utkal University, where he told reporters, “We appealed to the public, especially students, to observe a one-minute prayer at 9 AM to demand justice. Such observances have taken place in multiple locations.”
Das added that the tribute was especially held near a university campus to underscore the victim’s identity as a student and to stand in solidarity with the student community.
In a related move, the Congress also launched a mobile application aimed at addressing the grievances of women in distress across Odisha.
Speaking on the occasion, Minakshi Bahinipati, President of the OPCC women’s wing, said, “On the ‘Ekadashah’ (11th day ritual) of the Balasore victim, we launched this app to assist women who are survivors of rape and other atrocities. Many women don’t receive timely support from the police, and this app aims to bridge that gap.”
She added that the Congress will continue its fight to ensure justice and safety for women in the state.
The deceased student, a resident of Balasore, self-immolated on the FM College campus on July 12 and succumbed to her injuries at AIIMS Bhubaneswar on July 14.
