Bhubaneswar, July 15: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Tuesday announced a candlelight rally to be held this evening and a gherao of Lok Seva Bhawan on July 16, in protest against the tragic death of 20-year-old Soumyashree Bisi, a B.Ed student of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore. The student died after sustaining over 90% burn injuries in an alleged self-immolation attempt inside the college campus on July 12.

Senior BJD leader Debi Prasad Mishra said the party is demanding a judicial probe led by a sitting judge of the High Court. The BJD has also called for the resignation of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, citing moral responsibility for the incident and the administration’s failure to protect students.

Soumyashree had reportedly accused the Head of the Education Department, Samir Kumar Sahu, of prolonged sexual harassment and took the extreme step after facing institutional neglect. Despite intensive treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, she was declared dead at 11:46 pm on July 14.

Meanwhile, the Odisha Pradesh Youth Congress also held a protest at Ram Mandir Square, burning effigies of the CM and Education Minister, demanding justice and government accountability.

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