Odisha: "They staged drama...," BJD's Elina Dash alleges cover-up in Balasore student's death

Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], July 15 (ANI): Following the death of a woman student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore who had attempted self-immolation, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Elina Dash on Tuesday accused the state government and police of covering up the incident, claiming the student had died earlier than officially declared.
Alleging a deliberate delay to coincide with President Droupadi Murmu's visit, Dash alleged the authorities tried to move the body secretly at night.
She also demanded the resignation of the Higher Education Minister and the Chief Minister, vowing statewide protests until justice is delivered.
Speaking to ANI, Elina Dash said, "They officially declared at night that she is no more, but we knew she had died when she was 95 per cent burnt. They staged the entire drama because the President was going to come. They had a plan to take the dead body discreetly during the night... We are fighting for justice. We will not leave until she and her family get justice... The police are the partner in crime and are protecting them in everything... We will not let them take the body away till the Higher Education Minister and the Chief Minister resign... There will be protests in every district and village..."
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) workers staged a protest as the mortal remains of the deceased student were being taken to the postmortem centre of AIIMS.
Yesterday, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhubaneswar confirmed the death of the 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore. She had set herself ablaze on July 12 after pouring petrol on herself during a protest.
The Department of Burn Centre, AIIMS Bhubaneswar, said in a statement that the patient was brought to the casualty on July 12 and was referred from Balasore District Headquarters Hospital to AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
"She was admitted to the Burns Centre ICU. The patient was resuscitated with IV fluids, IV antibiotics, intubated and put on mechanical ventilation. Despite adequate resuscitation and all possible supportive management, including renal replacement therapy at the Burns ICU, she could not be revived and was declared clinically dead at 11:46 PM on July 14," the statement said.
The 20-year-old student set herself on fire after allegedly facing prolonged sexual harassment by her college's Head of Department. Despite lodging a formal complaint and seeking help from the principal, her pleas were ignored, leading to the tragic incident. The incident occurred at Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College. (ANI)