Balasore self-immolation case: "Not a normal death, we want judicial enquiry", says BJD's Lenin Mohanty

Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], July 16 (ANI): In the wake of the death of a 20-year-old student in Balasore's college, BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty demanded a judicial enquiry on the incident, claiming that it is not a "normal death".
Speaking to ANI, Mohanty claimed that the authorities kept ignoring the complaint of the student, who was left with no choice but to self-immolate herself.
"We are sad. Tomorrow, we will surround the Lok Sabha Bhavan as part of a state-level program. Another programme is happening at Balasore, where we have called for a bandh. She was a victim because she tried to find a way out. She was a victim because she was abused by her own HOD. When she reported to the principal, he took it lightly. When the matter came up before the internal committee, the internal committee was formed that particular day. They sat over it for 2 weeks, and subsequently, when she tweeted it to the CM and the education minister, nobody responded. And then she took a drastic step, and now she is no more," the BJD spokesperson said.
He further stated that many suspicions have arisen.
"Our leaders were not allowed to meet her. Because of the institutional failure, she lost her life. The firefighting machine is not there. At that point, two CCTV cameras are not working. This is not a normal death, and we want a judicial enquiry. The CM and the education minister should resign. They have failed. This is not the first case," Mohanty said.
He further said that over the last year, there have been more than 3054 rape cases.
"There is a breakdown of law and order. 10 days ago, in Gopalpur, there was a gangrape, and 10 days before, another gangrape at the same place. There was a rape of a tribal lady at Keonjhar," the BJD leader said.
The BJD has also demanded Rs 1 crore compensation for the victim's family and a judicial inquiry into the incident.
Meanwhile, eight Opposition political parties, including the Congress, on Tuesday unitedly called for 'Odisha Bandh' on July 17 over the death of a 20-year-old girl student from Balasore, demanding the resignation of the State Higher Education Minister and a judicial investigation.
"Joint opposition has resolved that Odisha will be closed on 17th July," CPI(M) leader Suresh Panigrahi told ANI."
The 20-year-old student had allegedly faced prolonged sexual harassment by the Head of Department (HoD) at Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore. Despite filing a formal complaint and seeking help from the college principal, her grievances reportedly went unheard, leading her to take the extreme step on campus last Saturday.
She was initially admitted to the Balasore district hospital and later referred to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhubaneswar, where she succumbed to her burn injuries on Monday, hospital authorities said.
In connection with the case, Fakir Mohan College's HoD, Samira Kumar Sahu, and Principal, Dilip Ghose, have been arrested. (ANI)