Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has personally reached out to the grieving father of the 20-year-old B.Ed student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College, Balasore, who succumbed to severe burn injuries after reportedly attempting self-immolation over sexual harassment by a faculty member. Speaking with the father, Gandhi shared his condolences and expressed deep emotional solidarity, stating that he heard in the father’s voice the pain and unfulfilled dreams of his daughter. Gandhi vowed that both he and the Congress party will stand by the family and ensure they receive full justice, describing the incident as not only tragic but an inhuman act that scars the collective conscience of society.

Earlier, Rahul Gandhi had strongly criticized the Odisha BJP government, alleging the student’s death was a result of systemic failure and amounted to “murder by the BJP’s system.” He noted that despite raising her voice against harassment, the student was met with threats, humiliation, and denial of justice. Gandhi’s intervention has amplified public outrage and political tension across the state, where the Congress and several opposition parties have united in protest. The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee, led by President Bhakta Charan Das, visited the victim’s family, conveying the party’s full support and promising to fight relentlessly for justice.

The incident has sparked widespread condemnation and mobilization. A statewide Odisha Bandh has been announced for July 17 by Congress and allied parties, while the Opposition BJD is observing a separate Balasore Bandh and plans to gherao the Lok Seva Bhavan in Bhubaneswar. The victim, who had suffered over 90% burns, passed away at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, where she had been admitted after accusing her department HOD, Samir Kumar Sahu, of sexual harassment. The tragic case has reignited national debates on institutional accountability, safety for women on campuses, and political indifference in cases of gender-based violence.