College student dies after self-immolation over ‘blackmail by boyfriend’ in Odisha | Latest News India

A female college student died after she allegedly set herself on fire in Odisha’s Kendrapara district on Wednesday because of blackmail by her boyfriend, news agency PTI reported, citing police.

This is the second case of self-immolation since July 12, and third case of women dying due to burn injuries in the state.

The incident took place in Kathiapada village in the Pattamundai (Rural) police station area on Wednesday morning, news agency PTI reported.

The father of the deceased, who was aged around 20, claimed that she poured an inflammable substance over herself and set herself on fire in their home when she was alone.

“She was in a relationship with a man and was being blackmailed by him,” he was quoted as saying. He added that six months ago, his daughter filed a police complaint, but no action was taken.

The father claimed that the police asked his daughter “to block the man’s mobile number if he was harassing her”.

Kendrapara Superintendent of Police Siddarth Kataria reached the scene and said, “I have seen the body. Her father claimed that she died by suicide. The matter will be investigated.”

Last month, a female college student immolated herself on the campus after no action was taken over the harassment complaints she made against a professor.

Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides are preventable. A few major suicide prevention helpline numbers in India are 011-23389090 from Sumaitri (Delhi-based) and 044-24640050 from Sneha Foundation (Chennai-based).