Bhubaneswar: In a dramatic escalation of protests following the death of a student at Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore, Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan (NNKS) president Akshay Kumar has announced a massive padayatra and satyagraha from Balasore to Bhubaneswar. The protest, led by the student wing of NNKS, will begin on August 4 and culminate in a large student gathering in the capital on August 18.
Calling the deceased student a “revolutionary figure akin to the Rani of Jhansi,” Kumar said her death has deeply shaken the state and demands a systemic response.
“The Balasore student was not just an ordinary girl; her sacrifice has established her as a revolutionary figure. Her death has brought sorrow to all. There is a need to find a new path for systemic change in her memory,” he stated at a press conference.
The NNKS demanded resignation of Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, accusing the government of moral failure and administrative negligence in the wake of the student’s death.
The tragedy has quickly evolved into a statewide political and civil movement. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) held protests in both Bhubaneswar and Balasore on July 16, demanding justice and action against those responsible. A day later, the Congress party enforced a statewide bandh on July 17, disrupting normal life across Odisha.
Public outrage continues to grow as student groups, opposition parties, and civil society organizations join hands in demanding accountability.
