Balasore, July 14: The Women’s Wing of the Crime Branch on Monday reached Fakir Mohan Autonomous College, for the second consecutive day, to investigate the tragic self-immolation attempt by Soumyashree Bisi, a second-year Integrated B.Ed student.

On Sunday, a team led by an Additional SP and a DSP conducted a four-hour inquiry on campus, questioning faculty, students, and internal complaints committee (ICC) members.

The probe is focused on allegations of sexual and mental harassment by Assistant Professor Sameer Kumar Sahoo, who has since been arrested, and the role of suspended Principal Dillip Ghosh.

Soumyashree, who suffered 95% burn injuries in the incident, is currently on advanced life support at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, and undergoing dialysis due to kidney damage.

A 10-member medical panel is monitoring the health condition of the victim.

Notably, the victim had set herself ablaze after pouring petrol on herself in front of the Principal's chamber on Saturday. The student with severe burn wounds was rushed to Balasore Medical College, but was later shifted to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, for advanced treatment.  

Prior to the self-immolation bid, Soumyashree had staged a sit-in protest near the college campus demanding action against the accused HoD of the BEd department, Samir Kumar Sahu, for the alleged misbehaviour. She was very upset as no action was taken against the HoD by the college authorities despite her lodging a formal complaint against the accused Sahu.

The incident, which occurred on July 12, has sparked statewide outrage and demands for institutional accountability.

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