Balasore (Odisha) [India], July 16 : Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Lekha Samantsinghar on Wednesday criticised the administration, police, and BJP leaders for their failure to ensure justice for the victim of the Balasore self-immolation case. She also announced her party's call for a 'Balasore bandh' in response to the victim's tragic death.
While talking to ANI, BJD leader Lekha Samantsinghar said, "Asking for justice, the victim ran from pillar to post, informing administration, police, authorities, BJP MLAs, MP, but she did not get justice anywhere and she took the extreme step of ending her life."
She further added, "This incident has shocked the entire country...The party has called for a 'Balasore bandh'...People have come out to pay respect to her soul...Everything is closed except for the emergency services."
Earlier, CPI General Secretary D Raja also condemned the death incident of a student of Balasore Fakir Mohan Autonomous College, who self-immolated herself in protest over alleged sexual harassment by her teacher.
Raja called the incident "institutional torture" and "murder".
"Our party condemns what happened in Balasore and is also a part of the Odisha Bandh... All those who are involved should be held accountable, including the state government...What happened was an institutional torture and murder," D. Raja said.
Police on Wednesday used water cannon to disperse BJD workers protesting against the Odisha government after a 20-year-old girl self-immolated because of alleged sexual harassment by her teacher.
Police also detained the BJD workers who are protesting over the Balasore student's death.
The 20-year-old student set herself on fire after allegedly facing prolonged sexual harassment by her college's Head of Department. Despite lodging a formal complaint and seeking help from the principal, her pleas were ignored, leading to the tragic incident. The incident occurred at Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College.