"Clear conspiracy by ABVP": Odisha NSUI president alleges involvement of ABVP cadre in Balasore self-immolation case - World News Network

Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], July 19 (ANI): Odisha National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) President Udit Pradhan on Saturday launched a scathing attack on ABVP, alleging the possible involvement of the student organisation’s members in the death of a college student, who set herself on fire last week after her repeated complaints of sexual harassment by a teacher were allegedly ignored.
He further raised allegations against the state government, saying that CCTV footage is not being made public due to the involvement of ABVP members.
Alleging a conspiracy by ABVP, he said, “Being a political follower does not mean someone holds a post or has authority… This is a clear conspiracy by ABVP… Everyone is saying that it was ABVP who gave the victim the petrol and matchsticks and was also recording, and if ABVP’s involvement is found, the government will fall. This is why CCTV is not being made public.”
“The girl had been crying for justice for 6 months; where were the ABVP students then? … The girl tweeted, mentioning the state Education Minister, the CM, but no action was taken… If they truly have nothing to hide, release the CCTV footage; the country will know who is guilty,” he added.
The death of a 20-year-old student of Fakir Mohan Autonomous College, who had allegedly faced prolonged sexual harassment by the Head of Department (HoD), has caused a massive political row in the state.
The victim had attempted self-immolation on July 12 on the college campus, sustaining over 90 per cent burn injuries, and succumbed to her injuries at AIIMS Bhubaneswar on July 14.
Meanwhile, the BJD Women’s wings protested the Balasor incident with a sit-in in front of the Women’s Commission office demanding the appointment of a state Women Commissioner
BJD leader Ipsita Sahoo said, “Even today, a girl was set on fire in the constituency of Deputy CM Pravati Parida. Three men set her ablaze in broad daylight. Imagine the condition in Odisha today…The law and order in Odisha is really bad for women. We are holding a strike in front of the Women Commission’s office today because it has been more than a year but the Body’s Commissioner’s position is lying vacant”
In another incident, a 16-year-old girl was set on fire by miscreants under Balanda police station in Nimapada block of Puri, Odisha. The minor girl, who suffered severe burn injuries, has been shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneshwar for treatment. (ANI)

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