• Source:JND
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Odisha Bandh Updates: Eight Opposition parties led by Congress on Thursday called for a statewide 'bandh' in protest against the state government, demanding justice for the Balasore student who died by self-immolation over alleged inaction on her sexual harassment complaint. Normal lives have been affected due to the bandh protests. Political activists were seen on the railway tracks in Bhadrak. They attempted to block train services. Other public transport services were also affected.

Demand For Odisha CM And Education Minister's Resignations

Odisha Congress in-charge Ajay Kumar Lallu, who led a march in Bhubaneswar, said, "To provide justice to the daughter of Odisha, today the Congress party is on the streets. The entire nation is feeling ashamed by the incident. Where is the fact-finding team of the BJP?... The chief minister should resign..."

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Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das said, "This is not about politics; this is about standing with our daughters. Every school, college, and university is at risk if we don't act now." He demanded the resignation of the state's Education Minister, the local MLA, and the MP, holding them responsible for their failure to act on the student's complaint and ensure justice to her in sexual harassment by her professor.

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Tight Security In Place

The Odisha Police made tight security arrangements across the state in view of the bandh protest by the Opposition parties. Heavy security deployments were made around railway stations, bus stations and other main points in Bhubaneswar.

What Was The Balasore Self-Immolation Case?

A massive outrage occurred in Odisha after a second-year Integrated B.Ed student from Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore set herself ablaze, suffering 95 per cent burns on July 12. She made the self-immolation against the college administration for not acting on her sexual harassment complaint against a professor. Three days later, she succumbed to her injuries on Monday at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, sparking widespread outrage across the state.