Cuttack, July 18: The Odisha Police’s Crime Branch has recorded the statement of Jyotiranjan Biswal, a student of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore, who sustained burn injuries while trying to save a 20-year-old female student from self-immolation, officials said on Friday.

The female student, a second-year BA Bed student at FM College, tragically succumbed to her injuries at AIIMS Bhubaneswar after setting herself ablaze in protest against alleged sexual harassment by a faculty member.

Biswal is currently undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. On Thursday, two Crime Branch officers visited the hospital to speak with him and gather details about the incident. According to official sources, his testimony is considered crucial to the investigation, as he was present at the scene and attempted to rescue the victim.

The Crime Branch formally took over the investigation on Wednesday, following widespread outrage and demands for a thorough probe into the circumstances that led to the student’s death. The case has sparked intense public debate over the safety of students and the handling of sexual harassment complaints in educational institutions.

Crime Branch officers are now working to verify the allegations and identify individuals who may have been involved or negligent. The college administration has yet to issue a detailed statement, while student organizations and civil society groups have called for justice and institutional reforms.

The incident has sent shockwaves across Odisha, prompting calls for stronger mechanisms to address harassment and protect vulnerable students.

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