A second-year Integrated B.Ed. student at Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore, Odisha, allegedly set herself on fire inside campus on Saturday, suffering severe burn injuries covering approximately 90% of her body, police confirmed. She had filed a formal sexual harassment complaint against her department head on June 30, after enduring repeated distress and an unresolved internal inquiry by the college’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC).

According to officials, the student had protested on campus for nearly a week, seeking action. On the day of the tragedy, she approached the principal, who offered counselling but no resolution, before reportedly pouring petrol over herself and igniting it . A fellow male student sustained injuries while attempting to rescue her; both were rushed first to Balasore District Hospital and later transferred to AIIMS Bhubaneswar, where her condition remains critical.

The accused teacher has been detained, and an investigation led by SP Raj Prasad and a scientific team is underway. Balasore MLA Manas Dutta emphasized that saving the student’s life is the priority. The incident has sparked widespread outrage, raising urgent questions about institutional accountability and support mechanisms for harassment victims, echoing past campus crises where victims felt compelled to take extreme steps.