BHUBANESWAR , August 4, 2025 :
The Crime Branch of Odisha Police has arrested two individuals associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in connection with the tragic self-immolation of a 20-year-old student at F.M. Autonomous College, Balasore. The student had died last month after setting herself ablaze following alleged sexual harassment and administrative apathy.
The arrests follow a month-long probe into the tragic self-immolation of a 20-year-old student in Balasore, sparking renewed concerns over the absence of Internal Complaints Committees in colleges.
The two arrested are Subhra Sambit Nayak, ABVP’s State Joint Secretary, and Jyotiprakash Biswal, who had reportedly sustained injuries while trying to rescue the girl during the incident. Both were detained late on Sunday night (August 3) and produced in a local court, which has remanded them to 14 days of judicial custody.
The victim, a second-year undergraduate student, had earlier accused her teacher Samira Sahoo of sexual harassment, but her repeated complaints allegedly went unaddressed. On July 12, after leaving the office of the principal, she doused herself in kerosene and set herself on fire. She succumbed to 95% burn injuries at AIIMS Bhubaneswar on July 14.
Earlier video footage had captured Subhra Sambit Nayak confronting the college principal, demanding action against the teacher on behalf of the student. However, investigators now suspect a wider conspiracy and possible coercion or mismanagement in how the student’s grievances were handled.
During the probe, the Crime Branch questioned a wide range of individuals — including students, faculty members, parents, and journalists — and reviewed extensive video evidence and digital communications. More arrests are likely, officials said.
Some individuals associated with the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) — the student wing of the Indian National Congress — may also be brought under the ambit of investigation for allegedly making social media remarks related to the victim.
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