Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has constituted a three-member committee to probe the alleged self-immolation attempt by a girl student of FM (Autonomous) College in Balasore district today.

The girl, an Integrated B.Ed student, allegedly attempted self-immolation in front of the principal’s chamber due to continuous harassment by the Head of Education Department Samira Kumar Sahu. The victim sustained 90 per cent burn injuries in the incident and she is now battling for life at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar.

The committee comprising Higher Education Director Kali Prasanna Mohapatra, Higher Education Department Joint Secretary Mousumi Nayak and Professor Jhumki Rath of BJP (Autonomous) College will conduct a thorough inquiry into the incident.

The Higher Education Department of the state government has asked the three-member committee to ascertain the circumstances leading to the self-immolation attempt, look into the harassment allegation levelled against the Sahu and examine the role of the college administration, including the principal and internal complaint committee, in dealing with the complaints filed by the victim.

The probe panel has been asked to identify the lapses on part of any individual or authority.

Taking the issue seriously, the state government has suspended college principal Dillip Kumar Ghose and Education Department HOD Sahu. Sahu was also arrested by the local police.