Bhubaneswar: Inspector General of Odisha Police Crime Branch, S Shyni, who was leading the investigation into the death of a college student by self-immolation in Balasore, has proceeded on leave till August 15, official sources said on Wednesday.
Shyni, who also heads the Crime Against Women
and Children Wing (CAWCW), went on leave from Tuesday — a day after two leaders
of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) were arrested on charges of
abetment to suicide in the case.
The 20-year-old second-year student of FM
College in Balasore had allegedly set herself on fire on July 12, protesting
against sexual harassment by a professor. She succumbed to her injuries on July
14 while undergoing treatment at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar.
In the absence of Shyni, Crime Branch SP
Anirudha Routray has been assigned to supervise the investigation.
“IGP Shyni has gone on leave for personal
work. SP Routray will now oversee the probe into the Balasore self-immolation
case,” said Crime Branch DG Vinaytosh Mishra, while speaking to reporters.
Clarifying speculation, Mishra added, “Her
going on leave has no connection with the arrest of the two student leaders.”
The Crime Branch had taken over the case on July 16. So far, four persons — two ABVP leaders, the accused professor, and a former principal of the college — have been arrested in connection with the incident.