The University Grants Commission (UGC) has constituted a four-member fact-finding committee to investigate the disturbing case of a girl student who died by suicide on the campus of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Odisha's Balasore. As per information, the panel will examine harassment claims, compliance with anti-harassment policies, and recommend corrective actions. The move comes amid nationwide outrage and calls for accountability over the alleged inaction that preceded her death.
According to officials, the 20-year-old BEd second-year student had accused Samira Kumar Sahu, Head of the Education Department at the college, of sexually harassing her. Unable to bear the alleged harassment and lack of response from authorities, the student took the extreme step on Saturday, setting herself on fire right on the college premises. She died at the AIIMS Bhubaneswar on Monday night after battling for life for about 60 hours.
What did UGC Secretary say?
"A four-member panel has been formed to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident, including availability and effectiveness of factors such as institutional policies, grievance redressal mechanism, anti-harassment measures adopted and student support systems," said UGC Secretary Sudeep Singh Jain. "The panel will examine circumstances surrounding the incident, assess compliance with the stipulated regulatory provisions, and suggest measures to prevent such incidents in future," he added.
The panel will be headed by Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University Professor and UGC member Raj Kumar Mittal. The members of the panel include former UGC member Sushma Yadav, former Gujarat University vice chancellor Neerja Gupta and UGC Joint Secretary Ashima Mangla.
BJD demands judicial inquiry
Meanwhile, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has demanded a judicial inquiry into the "planned injustice" which led to the death of the college student in the state and asked the Odisha government to publicly tender an apology for "failure of the system". The demands were made at a press conference here addressed by BJD senior vice president Debi Prasad Mishra and other senior leaders including Sanjay Das Burma and Pratap Jena. "We demand a judicial probe into the incident headed by a sitting judge of the Orissa High Court. The people whom the deceased girl had approached through digital platform should come under the purview of the inquiry," Mishra told reporters.
Stating that the self-immolation death of the 20-year-old Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) college woman student for denial of justice, has shocked the entire country, Mishra said that the BJD students and youths are already on the streets and a candlelight rally will be held on Tuesday evening as a mark of solidarity with the victim's family. "The party has also planned to gherao the Lok Seva Bhawan (state secretariat) on Wednesday," Mishra said, adding that the entire state is shocked that none of the persons in position came to rescue a woman who was fighting for justice, against the teacher who allegedly sexually and mentally harassed her for months together.
(With inputs from PTI)
