Student sets herself on fire, prof held

ACCUSED USED TO ASK HER FOR 'FAVOURS' AND BLACKMAILED HER, THE VICTIM'S FRIEND SAID

- Debabrata Mohanty

An assistant professor of an autonomous college in Odisha was arrested and its principal suspended after a 20-year-old student set herself afire alleging sexual harassment by the former, police said on Saturday, adding that the victim has sustained 90% burn injuries and her condition is extremely critical.

According to the victim's friend, she lodged a sexual harassment complaint against assistant professor Samir Kumar Sahu, who heads the education department at the institute, with the internal complaints committee of the college on July 1. The victim, a second-year student of the college, alleged that Sahu had been asking her for “favours” and had also threatened to destroy her academic career if she did not oblige. Though she was assured action within seven days, nothing happened, said her friend. She also lodged a complaint with local police in the issue.