Suspended principal held for ‘pushing' girl to set herself on fire
The arrest comes amid days of protests and mounting public pressure following the incident.
Confirming the arrest, DIG (Eastern Range) Satyajit Nayak said the principal has been booked for abetment of suicide, among other sections. "A swift trial initiative (STI) team has been formed to ensure a speedy and coordinated probe. The team includes investigators, forensic experts and prosecutors who are working to collect medical records and digital evidence, and conduct forensic analysis to build a strong case," Naik said.
The principal had been suspended on the day of the crime, while the accused teacher was arrested the same day under BNS Sections 75(1)(ii) (demand or request for sexual favours), 79 (insulting modesty of a woman), 108 (abetment of suicide), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), and 3(5) (common intention).
The girl a second-year integrated BEd student, set herself on fire outside the college after her complaints of alleged sexual harassment against a faculty member went unaddressed.
She is currently battling for her life at AIIMS Bhubaneswar with 90% burns. "We cannot say the condition is improving. We can say she is critical and stable. Her condition is the same as when she arrived at the hospital," said Dillip Kumar Parida, medical superintendent at AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
According to the police, the girl had lodged a formal complaint with the college's internal complaints committee (ICC) on June 30, accusing the teacher of sexual harassment and intimidation.
The complaint was reportedly ignored by the college administration.
On Monday, a three-member departmental probe team — including higher education director Kali Prasanna Mohapatra, joint secretary Mousumi Nayak and professor Jhumki Rath of BJB (Autonomous) College — spent four hours in the Balasore college, gathering evidence and recording statements of key people.
"The investigation is still underway. It is too early to say who is right or wrong. We will report our findings to the govt," said Kali Prasanna Mohapatra, who is leading the inquiry team.
A team of the crime against women and children's wing of the crime branch also visited the college to carry out its own inquiry.
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