Balasore: In a major development in the shocking self-immolation attempt by a student of Fakir Mohan (FM) College, Balasore, police on Monday arrested the college principal, Dillip Kumar Ghose, after his suspension.

The Sahadevkhunta police took Ghose into custody two days after he was placed under suspension by the Odisha Higher Education Department. 

Earlier, Head of Department (HoD), Education, Samira Kumar Sahu, had also been suspended for his alleged involvement in the mental harassment of the student. Later, he was arrested by the police.

The incident occurred on July 12 (Saturday), when Soumyashree Bisi, a second-year Integrated B.Ed student, attempted to set herself on fire outside the principal’s chamber. Reports suggest that the extreme act followed an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) decision that gave a clean chit to the HoD, whom the student had accused of repeated harassment.

Soumyashree sustained over 95% burn injuries and was immediately referred to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, where she is currently undergoing treatment under the supervision of a specialized team of medical experts.

The incident has triggered widespread outrage across Odisha and beyond, drawing strong reactions from student bodies, civil society, and political leaders demanding justice.

In response, the state government has constituted a three-member inquiry committee to thoroughly investigate the circumstances that led to the tragic incident. The panel will examine the role of the college administration, the ICC, and other responsible parties to ensure accountability and prevent such occurrences in the future.