President Droupadi Murmu on Monday visited the burn unit at AIIMS Bhubaneswar to check on the health condition of the college student who set herself on fire after inaction over alleged sexual harassment by a professor.
Murmu, who hailed from Odisha, was in the state to attend AIIMS's 5th Convocation ceremony during the day. She then visited the burn and plastic surgery department before returning to Raj Bhavan. Her visit was not scheduled.
President Murmu was accompanied by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, and Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan. She also met the family members of the patient.
The 20-year-old woman, a second-year Integrated B.Ed student of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore, Odisha, set herself on fire on Saturday. She took the drastic step alleging inaction over her repeated complaints and protest against the professor, whom she accused of sexually harassing her.
Following the incident, she was rushed to the Balasore District Headquarters Hospital from where she was shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for advanced treatment as she has suffered 95 per cent burns.
“The President visited the patient; she was in a ventilator. She enquired about the treatment and how the student is responding. We informed the President about the modern treatment being given to her,” Dr Ashutosh Biswas, the executive director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar said, as reported by news agency PTI.
They Killed My Daughter, They Should Be Arrested: Victim's Father
The father of the victim thanked the President for paying a visit and enquiring about his daughter's condition. He said that she prayed for his daughter and comforted the family.
"I am very grateful to President Droupadi Murmu because she came here to see my daughter’s condition. She met us and asked about us and our family... She prayed for my daughter and gave us comfort," he said.
However, he expressed dissatisfaction over the principal's arrest, saying that it was not enough and that "those who were in the internal committee, who prepared the report, should also be taken into custody."
"They killed my daughter to save their college. They should also be arrested," he added.
Meanwhile, the student's brother told PTI that the President expressed concern over the incident and became emotional. "She suggested that we pray to Lord Jagannath. The President said she would do something for my sister after she recovers," he said.
The student had earlier alleged that the professor, who was also the head of the Education department, asked “favour” from her. When she declined, he began to mentally harass her.
She reported the matter to the attention of the College principal. However, despite repeated requests for help, justice eluded her for 11 days and she finally set herself on fire.
Both the head of the department and the principal were suspended and later arrested in connection with the matter.