The woman had submitted a complaint against her head of department on July 1 but, sources said, no action was taken.
Harassed by her head of department, who allegedly repeatedly asked her for sexual favours and threatened to destroy her future if she did not comply, a student set herself ablaze at a college in Odisha's Balasore. The woman has suffered 95% burn injuries and a fellow student who tried to save her also suffered 70% burns.
The head of department has been arrested. He and the college principal have also been suspended by the higher education department. "Strict action will be taken against them," said the state's higher education minister Suryabanshi Suraj.
The woman, who was a student of the integrated B.Ed programme, had filed a complaint on July 1 to the internal complaints committee of the Fakir Mohan College. She had alleged her head of department, Samir Kumar Sahu, had been asking her for "favours" and had also threatened her.
Sources said the student was assured that action would be taken in seven days, but nothing happened.
On Saturday, the woman and several other students began a protest outside the gate of the college. Her fellow students said she suddenly got up, ran to an area close to the principal's office, poured petrol on herself and set herself ablaze.
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