Odisha Shutdown Over Student’s Death: Opposition Protest Brings State to Standstill

Odisha,July17,2025

Odisha witnessed a statewide shutdown on Thursday as eight opposition parties, including the Congress, called for a bandh from 6 AM to 6 PM in protest over the death of a female student from Balasore’s FM College.

The shutdown was triggered by growing outrage over the student’s tragic death, which followed her alleged sexual harassment and lack of action by authorities.

Impact Across the State

The bandh had a significant impact across Odisha, with schools, colleges, markets, shopping malls, and cinema halls all remaining closed. Public transport services were hit, and nearly 30,000 petrol pumps also shut down in solidarity.

However, emergency services, including ambulance operations, hospitals, and medical stores, continued to function normally.

Congress Appeals for Peaceful Protest

Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee President Bhakta Charan Das released a video message urging people to participate in the bandh peacefully and maintain public order.

Government Response

In anticipation of the bandh, heavy police deployment was made across key locations, including the State Secretariat, the Odisha Legislative Assembly, and major government buildings. District Collectors were placed on high alert and instructed to ensure that essential services were not disrupted.

Commissioner of Police S. Debadatta Singh emphasized that while political parties have the right to protest, any unlawful activity would invite strict legal action.

What Are the Protesters Demanding?

The Congress and other opposition parties have demanded a judicial inquiry into the student’s death. They are also calling for the resignation of Odisha’s Higher Education Minister Surjya Narayan Patro, Balasore MP Pratap Sarangi, and local MLA Manas Kumar Dutta.

Additionally, they are seeking immediate suspension of Balasore District Collector Surya Vamsi Mayur Vikas and SP Raj Prasad, holding them accountable for administrative failure.

Opposition leaders have slammed the BJD government, accusing it of allowing law and order to deteriorate in the state and putting the lives of citizens at risk.

What’s the Case About?

The deceased was a student at Fakir Mohan College in Balasore and had recently been admitted in critical condition to AIIMS Bhubaneswar after attempting self-immolation on Saturday. She later succumbed to her injuries.

According to her family, the student had been a victim of ongoing sexual harassment by a department head at her college. Despite repeated complaints, they allege that the college administration failed to take action, pushing her to take this extreme step.

Following public outcry, the college principal Dilip Kumar Ghosh was arrested on Monday. The accused department head, Sameer Sahu, has also been taken into custody.

The incident has sparked widespread outrage across Odisha and raised urgent questions about campus safety, accountability, and administrative apathy.