‘She Paid for Her Courage’: Grieving Father Condemns Silence After Balasore Incident

‘She Paid the Price for Speaking Up’: Father of Balasore Victim Blames Widespread Apathy.

The father of the Balasore college student who died after setting herself on fire has blamed institutional neglect and public apathy for his daughter’s tragic death, saying she was punished for daring to speak out against sexual harassment.

The victim, a student at Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Odisha’s Balasore, succumbed to her injuries at AIIMS Bhubaneswar early Tuesday. Days earlier, she had attempted self-immolation on campus after allegedly receiving no action on her harassment complaint against the head of her department.

“My daughter spoke up and paid the price for it. Authorities knew what was happening. But the ignorance of many pushed her to take this step,” her father said on Wednesday, demanding accountability from all those involved.

‘No One Supported Her’
The father accused the college’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) of failing to act, saying even those responsible for investigating such complaints did nothing to help. “The ICC members should be arrested. No one stood by my daughter,” he said, calling for strict action against college officials who ignored repeated pleas for help.

The victim had approached the college principal with a written complaint. Her father claims that instead of receiving support, she faced pressure and silence. On July 12, she set herself on fire at the college. The disturbing video was later circulated online. She was initially admitted to the Balasore District Hospital and later shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar, where she died.

Principal, HoD Arrested
College principal Dillip Ghose was suspended and arrested on Monday. The state’s Higher Education Department accused him of failing to handle the matter responsibly and protecting the accused professor. The Head of Department, named in the student’s complaint, was also arrested.

BJP MP Says Victim Was Awaiting ICC Report
Balasore MP Pratap Sarangi said he had interacted with both the student and the college administration. “I asked the girl to file an FIR, but she said she was waiting for the internal committee’s report,” Sarangi told CNN. He also claimed that the principal had informed him about the allegations and said the ICC was investigating.

“She told me she was optimistic and wouldn’t harm herself again,” Sarangi added.

A System That Failed Her
The case has sparked outrage across Odisha, with activists and students calling for stronger protections for survivors and greater accountability from institutions. “She had the courage to speak up. What failed her was the silence of those who should’ve stood with her,” her father said, urging immediate arrests and a wider probe into the role of college authorities.