Bhubaneswar: A fact-finding team of the University Grants Commission (UGC) arrived in Balasore to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Soumyashree Bisi, a 20-year-old second-year Integrated B.Ed. student of Fakir Mohan Autonomous College. Soumyashree had attempted self-immolation on July 12 on the college campus, sustaining over 90% burn injuries, and succumbed to her injuries at AIIMS Bhubaneswar on July 14.
The four-member UGC team, led by Professor Raj Kumar Mittal, is probing allegations of harassment that may have led to Soumyashree’s tragic decision.
The team held discussions with the in-charge principal of the college and is examining the role of the college administration in the incident. Notably, the college principal, Dillip Ghosh, and the Head of Department, Samir Ranjan Sahu, who have been accused of mentally and sexually harassing the student, have been suspended and are in judicial custody.
In parallel, the Odisha Crime Branch has intensified its investigation into the incident. A team headed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) visited Soumyashree’s native village to speak with her family and local residents. Another team examined CCTV footage from a petrol pump near the college to determine whether fuel was purchased from the outlet around the time of the incident.
The probe team also visited the rented house where Soumyashree had been staying and held discussions with the landlord.
