Bhubaneswar: The three-member committee, constituted by the state government, has initiated probe into the circumstances that led to the alleged self-immolation attempt by a girl student of FM (Autonomous) College in Odisha’s Balasore district yesterday.

The committee comprising Higher Education Director Kali Prasanna Mohapatra, Higher Education Department Joint Secretary Mousumi Nayak and Professor Jhumki Rath of BJP (Autonomous) College visited the college and initiated the probe 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.

“We have initiated the investigation and talked to the principal and staff of the college. We will talk to the girls’ family and students of the college in later stage. We are trying to submit our report to the state government at the earliest,” said the Higher Education Director.

The committee reportedly collected some vital documents in connection with alleged harassment of the girl student.

It is worth mentioning here that 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.