Odisha Bandh Over Student’s Death Disrupts Normal Life Across State

Normal life was partially disrupted across Odisha on Thursday as the Congress and seven other opposition parties observed a 12-hour statewide bandh demanding justice for a college student who died after an alleged sexual harassment incident.

The bandh was called to protest the tragic death of Soumyashree Bisi, a student of Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore, who set herself ablaze earlier this month after allegedly facing inaction over her complaint of sexual harassment by a professor.

Starting from 6 a.m., opposition activists began demonstrations at key locations, blocking roads and staging sit-ins. Major towns and cities, including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, and Balasore, saw thin traffic on the roads, with buses, autorickshaws, and other vehicles remaining largely off the streets.

Train services were also impacted in certain areas. Protesters were seen squatting on railway tracks at stations such as Jatni, Bhadrak, and Puri, leading to delays and cancellations of several trains.

Shops, schools, colleges, and business establishments remained closed in many areas in response to the bandh call. Government offices registered low attendance, and many private offices remained shut for the day as a precautionary measure.

State Congress president Bhakta Charan Das reiterated demands for a judicial probe into the incident and the immediate arrest of the accused professor. “This is not just about one girl. This is about the safety and dignity of every student in Odisha,” he said during a press briefing.

Police were deployed in large numbers across the state to prevent any untoward incident. So far, the bandh remained largely peaceful, although isolated incidents of tension were reported near protest sites.

The student’s death has triggered widespread outrage across Odisha, prompting calls for stricter measures to ensure accountability in institutions and faster action on sexual harassment complaints.