Opposition parties in Odisha have united to enforce a 12-hour statewide bandh on Thursday, July 17, in response to the tragic death of a college student who set herself on fire, allegedly due to inaction over her claims of sexual harassment by a professor.
Eight opposition parties, including the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress, initiated the bandh to demand justice for the 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College. A partial bandh was observed in areas like Balasore on Wednesday, but Thursday’s protest, lasting until 6 p.m., is expected to cause widespread disruption. According to Odisha TV, markets, shops, schools, and colleges will remain shuttered, with vehicular movement halted, leaving roads largely empty. Essential services, including pharmacies and ambulances, will continue to operate normally.
While no official closure of government offices or banks has been announced, reduced staffing is anticipated. Train services may also face delays due to expected demonstrations and strikes across the state.
On Wednesday, Balasore saw significant unrest as BJD workers blocked roads and burned tires, with protests spreading to Jaleswar, Basta, Soro, Baliapal, and Bhograi, as reported by news agency PTI. Police regulated traffic in the region to manage the disruptions.
The bandh was announced on July 15 following the student’s death, days after she self-immolated in protest of alleged inaction on her harassment complaint against a college professor. BJD leader Debi Prasad Mishra expressed public outrage, stating, “People are furious over the denial of justice to the student who took such a drastic step.” He vowed that the BJD would continue statewide agitations until the BJP-led Odisha government orders a judicial probe into the incident.
Also read: Odisha student, who self-immolated over inaction on harassment complaint, dies
Protests also erupted earlier in Bhubaneswar, where Congress and BJD workers demonstrated outside AIIMS, where the student had been under treatment since July 12. The opposition has accused the BJP-led state government of attempting to cover up the incident and has demanded the removal of Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj.