Bhubaneswar: Capital City today witnessed a tense confrontation as Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leaders and workers attempted to “gherao” (surround) the Lok Seva Bhawan (State Secretariat) in protest over the tragic death of Soumyashree Bisi, a student of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College, Balasore.
While reports indicated the use of rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons by police to disperse the agitated crowd. Senior BJD Leaders Priti Ranjan Ghadei, Pranab Prakash Das and Sulata Deo, MP werer injured by rubber bullets.
What is a Rubber Bullet?
A rubber bullet is a type of “baton round” used for crowd control. Despite their name, they typically have a metal core with a rubber coating or are a homogeneous mixture with rubber as a minority component. While considered “less lethal” alternatives to traditional metal projectiles, rubber bullets can still cause serious injuries, including blindness, other permanent disabilities, and even be fatal, especially when fired directly at individuals from close range. They are generally fired at low velocities or skipped off the ground to reduce their impact, but misuse can lead to severe harm. Their use in crowd control has been controversial due to the potential for significant injury.
BJD was demonstrating before State Secretariat as Soumyashree Bisi, a second-year B.Ed student, tragically succumbed to her injuries on July 14, 2025, after allegedly setting herself on fire on July 12. She had reportedly faced sexual and mental harassment from a faculty member and claimed her complaints to college authorities went unaddressed for months, sparking widespread outrage across Odisha.
The BJD, Odisha’s principal opposition party, demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident, headed by a sitting High Court judge, and called for the resignation of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, holding them responsible for the “failure of the system” and the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.
The protest escalated when BJD workers, including members of the party’s student, youth, and women wings, broke through the first barricade and attempted to breach a second one at Lower PMG Square in their bid to march towards the Lok Seva Bhawan. Despite repeated warnings, police resorted to tear gas shells and water cannons to disperse the crowd. Hundreds of protesters, including several BJD MLAs and leaders, were detained. Drones were deployed for surveillance to monitor the situation.
Simultaneously, the BJD also called for an eight-hour “bandh” (strike) in Balasore district from 6 am to 2 pm, demanding a judicial inquiry into Soumyashree’s death. The bandh severely disrupted normal life in the district, with businesses, offices, and educational institutions remaining closed, and vehicular movement coming to a standstill. BJD activists also staged rail blockades at Soro and Balasore stations, disrupting train services.