Odisha Comes to a Halt for 12 Hours over Sexual Harassment Tragedy

Odisha Comes to a Halt for 12 Hours over Sexual Harassment Tragedy

CNB World Times

Bhubaneswar, July 17, 2025:
Odisha observed a 12-hour statewide shutdown on Thursday in response to the tragic death of 20-year-old student Soumyashree Bisi, who succumbed to burn injuries after a desperate act of protest against alleged sexual harassment and administrative apathy. The incident sparked massive outrage, with political parties and citizens demanding immediate justice and accountability.

Soumyashree, a B.Ed student at Fakir Mohan (FM) Autonomous College in Balasore, died on July 14 at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, three days after she attempted self-immolation outside her college gate. She had suffered 90% burns.

Since July 1, Soumyashree had been demanding action against Assistant Professor Samir Kumar Sahoo, accusing him of repeated sexual harassment, coercion, and academic threats. Despite submitting several written complaints to the college authorities and raising her voice on social media, tagging key officials - Department of Higher Education, Chief Minister’s Office, Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Education Ministry and National Commission for Women,  no substantial action was taken.

In a final, heartbreaking act of protest, Soumyashree set herself on fire on July 12 in full public view. Her death has since ignited widespread anger and calls for justice across the state.

In response, the Congress party, along with seven other political outfits including CPI, CPM, and the Samajwadi Party, jointly called for a 12-hour bandh across Odisha on July 17, demanding a high-level inquiry and the resignation of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

The shutdown, which was observed from 6 AM to 6 PM, was largely peaceful and saw participation from across the state. Protesters staged sit-ins, formed human chains, and blocked roads, with many demonstrators sleeping on highways to symbolically halt public movement.

From small port towns like Chandbali to the state capital Bhubaneswar, normal life came to a standstill. Public transport, trains, and private vehicles were off the roads. Educational institutions remained closed, banks shut their shutters, and many government offices locked their main gates in silent solidarity.

Police confirmed that while 48 protesters were detained temporarily for precautionary reasons in the capital city, no major law and order violations were reported. They were later released.

Despite the shutdown’s disruptive impact, citizens across Odisha showed remarkable unity and restraint, voluntarily withdrawing from public activities to honor Soumyashree's memory and demand justice.

Meanwhile, the state government has suspended and arrested Assistant Professor Samir Kumar Sahoo and college Principal Dillip Ghosh, as investigations continue into the tragic incident that has shaken the conscience of the state.

Though there was an exchange of statements aimed at gaining political mileage between leaders of the ruling party and the opposition, the one-year-old BJP government in Odisha faces significant challenges ahead in delivering justice to Soumyashree Bisi — a symbol of resistance, of truth, and of the price a woman still pays to speak out in India.