Balasore: The Odisha Higher Education Department on Monday appointed Professor Firoz Kumar Padhi as the acting principal of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore, following the suspension of principal Dilip Ghosh in connection with the self-immolation attempt of a 20-year-old B.Ed. student.
The student, Soumyashree Bisi, reportedly attempted to end her life by setting herself on fire on the college premises on July 12. She is currently undergoing treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar with 95 per cent burn injuries. Family members alleged she was subjected to continuous harassment by the Head of the Education Department Samira Kumar Sahu.
Professor Padhi, formerly Head of the Department (HoD) of Zoology, has been given charge as acting principal with immediate effect.
Meanwhile, Sahadevkhunta police on Monday arrested suspended principal Dilip Ghosh in connection with the incident.
Further investigation is underway.
