New Delhi/Bhubaneswar- In a decisive move following the tragic demise of 20-year-old Soumyashree Bisi, a student of Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has constituted a four-member fact-finding committee to investigate the incident that has sent shockwaves across the nation.
Soumyashree, an Integrated B.Ed. student, succumbed to critical burn injuries late on July 14, days after attempting self-immolation in front of her college principal’s chamber. The horrifying act was allegedly the result of prolonged harassment by Samira Kumar Sahu, Head of the Department of Education. According to reports, the student had earlier staged a peaceful protest and submitted a formal complaint against Sahu, but her pleas went unheeded by the college administration.
Her condition deteriorated rapidly after being shifted from Balasore Medical College to AIIMS Bhubaneswar, where she eventually lost her life while undergoing treatment.
In the wake of this heart-wrenching incident, the UGC responded by forming a dedicated inquiry panel to delve into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. The committee, headed by Prof. Raj Kumar Mittal of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, includes prominent academic leaders such as Prof. Sushma Yadav, former UGC Commission Member; Dr. Neerja Gupta, Vice Chancellor of Gujarat University; and Dr. Ashima Singh, Joint Secretary of UGC and the committee’s coordinating officer.
The panel’s mandate includes examining the events leading to the student’s death, evaluating whether the college followed the required protocols, and suggesting immediate and long-term preventive measures to ensure campus safety and student protection. The committee has been asked to submit its report within seven days.
Meanwhile, the Odisha police have taken strong action, arresting both the accused faculty member, Samira Kumar Sahu, under abetment to suicide and sexual harassment charges, and the college principal for alleged negligence. Both officials have also been suspended from duty pending further investigation.
The UGC’s intervention comes at a time of mounting public anger and widespread demands for accountability, transparency, and systemic reform in higher education institutions. Soumyashree’s death has sparked debates across academic and civil society circles about the urgent need for stronger mechanisms to address student grievances and protect them from abuse of power within campuses.
