17 July,2025 08:35 AM IST | Bhubaneswar | Agencies
BJD workers break police barricades while protesting the death of a college student in Balasore. Pic/PTI
Several Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leaders and workers, including two former ministers, were injured in a scuffle with police personnel here as the party's protest over the death of a college student turned violent on Wednesday.
The second-year B.Ed student of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College died at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar on Monday night. She had set herself on fire on the college campus las week over inaction against a professor who allegedly sexually harassed her.
The BJD's demonstration turned violent near the Lower PMG Square when its workers and leaders breached a barricade to march towards the state secretariat, Lok Seva Bhavan, and clashed with the police personnel, an officer said. "BJD workers were later arrested and taken away from the agitation site," the officer said.
Among the injured persons were former ministers Pranab Prakash Das and Priti Ranjan Gharai. The BJD held the protest, demanding a judicial inquiry and resignation of Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
Balasore bandh
Markets were shut, schools and colleges were closed, and vehicles largely remained off the roads as a bandh, called by the opposition BJD. Armed with party flags, hundreds of BJD members blocked major roads of the district by burning tyres. The traffic on the national highway passing through the district is also being regulated in view of the protests, police said. Apart from Balasore town, BJD workers were holding demonstrations in places like Jaleswar, Basta, Soro, Baliapal and Bhograi since morning.
Cong seeks President's rule
Demanding the resignation of CM Majhi, Mahila Congress chief Alka Lamba said President's Rule must be imposed in the state. Lamba, who arrived in the state to meet the victim's family, alleged that she died due to the failure of the system in Odisha.
Rahul Gandhi assures support
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday spoke to the father of the deceased student over the phone and assured him of support in the fight for justice. "Spoke with the father of the brave daughter who lost her life in the fight for justice in Balasore, Odisha. In his voice, I felt his daughter's pain, dreams, and struggle, and assured him that the Congress and I stand with them at every step," Gandhi posted on X. "What happened is not only inhuman and shameful but a wound to the entire society. We will ensure in every way that the victim's family receives full justice," he added.
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