Agni Pariksha in Odisha: Harassed Student’s Tragic Fight for Justice Ends in Flames
A 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan College in Odisha tragically ended her life after months of alleged sexual and academic harassment by her Head of Department, Samir Kumar Sahu. Before her death, she had confided in friends, revealing how she was being mentally tortured, intentionally failed, and blackmailed by the very person responsible for her academic future.
“A few months ago, she told me the HoD was harassing her—emotionally and academically. He kept failing her deliberately and refused to clear her backlogs,” said one of her close friends. “She didn’t want anyone to interfere at the time, but things reached a boiling point.”
On June 30, the second-year B.Ed integrated course student decided to take a stand. She gathered her friends and tried to mobilize classmates to collectively confront the college principal, Dilip Ghose, and demand immediate action against the HoD. She revealed that Sahu had misbehaved with her publicly and had even threatened to entrap her at the college for six long years.
The group approached the principal, hoping for swift justice. But instead, they were told that "decision-making is a process" and were asked to wait.
But waiting cost a life.
Twelve days later, the victim again insisted on speaking to the principal. However, the college campus was swarming with new students due to ongoing admissions. During a 20-minute lunch break, she was left alone—just long enough for tragedy to strike.
“We had stepped out briefly, and in that short time, we got a call that she had taken her own version of an ‘Agni Pariksha’,” her friend said. “I believe the principal may have said something that broke her completely. She was already exhausted from her battle for justice.”
In a shocking act of protest and desperation, she poured petrol on herself and set herself on fire outside the principal's office. A fellow student, Jyotiranjan Biswal, tried to save her and suffered 15% burn injuries. But she wasn’t as fortunate—she sustained 95% burns and succumbed to her injuries on July 14 at AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
What followed was equally disturbing.
According to the friend, after her initial complaint, the HoD rallied nearly 300 students in his support—manipulating the majority to stand against her. In contrast, only about 15–20 students supported the victim.
“The HoD turned students against her, and she became a pawn in a political game because of her involvement with ABVP. Her character was maliciously questioned, and a written application accusing her of misconduct was submitted to the principal,” the friend alleged. “Now, ironically, some of these same people are claiming to want justice.”
In a turn of accountability, both Samir Kumar Sahu and Principal Dilip Ghose have been arrested. They face serious charges including abetment to suicide, sexual harassment, stalking, and outraging a woman’s modesty.
Meanwhile, the Odisha state government has formed a three-member inquiry panel to investigate the case in detail.