BJD Gheraos RDC Offices Over FM College Student’s Death

Bhubaneswar: Hundreds of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) workers on Monday staged massive protests outside the offices of Revenue Divisional Commissioners (RDCs) in Cuttack, Berhampur, and Sambalpur, demanding a judicial inquiry into the tragic death of Soumyashree Bisi — a 20-year-old student of Fakir Mohan (FM) Autonomous College in Balasore — who succumbed to burn injuries after a self-immolation attempt over alleged harassment.

Led by senior party leaders, the protesters raised slogans and blocked roads near the RDC offices, asserting that women’s safety in the state has deteriorated and action must be taken. Addressing the gathering in Berhampur, senior BJD leader Sanjay Kumar Das Burma said,

“The people have voluntarily joined us in this movement. Women are not safe in Odisha today. Crime against women is on the rise. We demand a judicial probe into the FM College incident. If our demand is not met, we will intensify our agitation and gherao the Assembly in the coming days.”

The agitation marks a continuation of the party’s protest campaign. Earlier on July 16, BJD workers had attempted to gherao the Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar, leading to a violent scuffle with the police near the Lower PMG area after protesters tried to break barricades.

The death of Soumyashree Bisi has sparked statewide outrage, with political parties and civil society demanding justice and accountability.