Odisha CM announces Rs 20 lakh ex gratia for kin of Balasore college student

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday announced ex gratia of Rs 20 lakh for the family of the college student who died by setting herself on fire over alleged inaction on her sexual harassment complaint.

Majhi directed officers concerned to conduct a proper investigation into the incident so that all guilty are punished in accordance with the law, according to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO). Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati also expressed grief over the death of the student.

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"Shattered to learn of the untimely loss of a young student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College . Her passing is not just a tragedy—it is a stark reminder of the urgent need to safeguard our campuses," he said in a post on X. "The law will take its toughest course.

Those responsible will face uncompromising punishment. My heart goes out to the grieving family. May they find strength in this hour of unbearable pain," he added. The second-year B.Ed student died on Monday night at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar after fighting for her life for three days.

She set herself on fire on the campus on Saturday over alleged inaction against a professor who allegedly sexually harassed her. She had suffered 95 per cent burns. The principal and the HoD of the Education Department of the college in Balasore have been arrested in the case.