Prez visits Odisha student battling for life

VICTIM SUSTAINED 95% BURNS AND HER CONDITION IS “CRITICAL, BUT STABLE’, AND THE NEXT 72 HOURS ARE CRUCIAL, HOSPITAL SAID

- Debabrata Mohanty

President Droupadi Murmu on Monday met the family of the 20-year-old college student, who is battling for her life following a self-immolation bid over an alleged sexual harassment incident in Odisha, as political tensions over the case spilled over to the streets with opposition parties staging demonstrations in several parts of the state.

Police, meanwhile, arrested the college principal for trying to shield the accused.

The second-year student at the Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore had on July 12 set herself on fire, demanding action against assistant professor Samir Kumar Sahu, who heads the education department. The victim has alleged that Sahu had been asking her for “favours” and also threatened her to destroy her academic career if she did not oblige. Sahu was arrested on July 12.