India’s opposition escalated its attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party administration in Odisha after a 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore died from injuries sustained in a self-immolation attempt. The student, who had reportedly approached local officials multiple times over alleged harassment, was declared dead late Monday after suffering 95% burns. Congress Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi called the death “murder by the system”, accusing the state government of ignoring the student’s complaints and attempting a cover-up. Congress spokesperson Yashir Nawaz demanded the dismissal of Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, while Biju Janata Dal leader Elina Dash said authorities delayed announcing the death to coincide with President Droupadi Murmu’s visit and vowed statewide protests until senior officials resign. BJP MP and former National Commission for Women chair Rekha Sharma acknowledged negligence by the college but urged political parties to avoid exploiting the incident. The controversy has prompted renewed calls for an independent investigation into the handling of the student’s complaints and the circumstances surrounding her death.