The body of the 21-year-old Odisha college student who self-immolated over inaction from college authorities over alleged sexual harassment from a professor was cremated on Tuesday.
Her funeral pyre was lit by her brother in the village crematorium in front of thousands of people. Political party leaders and senior district administration officers were present, according to PTI.
The student’s father said at the crematorium, "My daughter has taught me to fight, and I will continue it. I do not need the money or ex gratia. I want my daughter back. Can the government give me back my child?"
A villager from the Basta area said that the student helped people get to safety during floods, saying, “ She used to help the administration to shift women to safe places during floods.” The villagers had mourned her death as her body was brought in an ambulance.
"We do not believe that she will commit suicide. She was mentally strong and a brilliant student. She was my student. She was forced to commit suicide by setting herself on fire for being denied justice." One teacher present at the crematorium said.
At least eight political parties have called for ‘Odisha bandh’ over the death of the student, according to news agency ANI. Congress has also called for the resignation of the Education Minister and the local MLA and MP.
The second-year student from Balasore’s Fakir Mohan College died in AIIMS Bhubaneswar after battling for her life for 60 hours after sustaining 95 per cent burns on her body. She had poured petrol and set herself on fire outside the Principal’s office.
The student had accused the College's Head of Department of Education, Asmir Kumar Sahu, of sexually harassing her. Both Samir and Principal Dilip Ghose have been arrested.
On July 1, she had written a letter to the college’s internal complaints committee demanding that a disciplinary committee be set up to investigate the allegations against Sahu. She had also stated that she would commit suicide if the college authorities did not take any action.
In the letter, she said, “For the last few months, the HoD of the BEd department, Assistant Professor Samir Kumar Sahu, has been harassing me mentally. He is always threatening me that he will ensure I fail. He has also threatened to share my personal matters with my family. Most importantly, the HoD is repeatedly asking for sexual favours. I have denied this continuously. I have lost my mental peace and attempted suicide. In the future, if the college authority does not take any action, I will commit suicide, and the HoD and the college authority will be responsible.” She set herself on fire four days after the warning.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Manjhi expressed his grief and said that the culprits will face the strictest punishment under the law.