Two Arrested, Including ABVP Leader, in Odisha Student Self-Immolation Case

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The Odisha Crime Branch has arrested two individuals, including Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) state joint secretary Subhra Sambit Nayak, in connection with the death of a 20-year-old student who set herself on fire at Fakir Mohan Autonomous College last month. The other accused has been identified as student Jyoti Prakash Biswal.

The incident occurred on July 12, when the victim allegedly self-immolated outside the principal’s office after claiming that her sexual harassment complaint against Assistant Professor Samir Kumar Sahoo was ignored. She sustained severe burn injuries covering 95 percent of her body and died on July 14 while undergoing treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar.

Earlier, the college principal, Dillip Ghose, and the head of the department were arrested and suspended in connection with the case. Police investigations later revealed that Biswal, who initially said he injured himself trying to save the victim, had instead recorded a video of the incident on his phone. Authorities allege that Biswal and Nayak may have played a role in provoking the victim to take the extreme step.

The two accused were taken into custody on Sunday night and presented before a court, which remanded them to 14 days of judicial custody. The Crime Branch has stated that the investigation is ongoing and that further arrests could follow based on evidence gathered.

Authorities continue to examine digital evidence, including video recordings and phone data, to determine the sequence of events and whether additional individuals were involved in encouraging or facilitating the act.