Pharmacy college principal succumbs to burn injuries days after she was set ablaze by ex-student
Indore (PTI): Five days after she was set ablaze by her former student, the 54-year-old principal of a private pharmacy college in Madhya Pradesh's Indore succumbed to her burn injuries at a local hospital early on Saturday, police said.
The victim, Dr Vimukta Sharma, principal of B M College of Pharmacy located under Simrol police station area, had been battling for life after former student of the institute Ashutosh Shrivastava (24) allegedly poured petrol and set her on fire over a marksheet on Monday, Superintendent of Police (Rural) Bhagwat Singh Virde told PTI.
She could not be saved despite best efforts by doctors, he said.
Shrivastava had set her on fire in the college premises leaving her 80 per cent burnt, he added.
The accused, who was arrested on Monday, is currently in police custody, Virde said.
The district administration has invoked the National Security Act (NSA) against Shrivastava for conspiring and committing the heinous crime, he said.
According to the police official, the accused was earlier booked for attempted murder, but now after the death of the principal, a charge of murder is being added in the first information report (FIR).
Virde said Shrivastava told the police during his interrogation that the authorities of B M College were not handing over the marksheet of BPharm examination which he had cleared in July 2022.
However, the college management termed Shrivastava's claim as false and alleged that he has criminal tendencies. The college authorities also claimed that despite being asked to collect his marksheet repeatedly, he did not take the document.
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India 10-15 years behind in traditional technologies, says DRDO Chief Samir V Kamat
Bengaluru: DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat has highlighted that India is lagging behind by 10-15 years in traditional technologies compared to most countries. Speaking at the 15th Air Chief Marshal LM Khatre Memorial Lecture in Bengaluru, Kamat emphasised the need for academia, DRDO, and industry to work collaboratively rather than in isolation to tackle emerging challenges.
Kamat stressed the importance of capacity-building, particularly in engineering education. He pointed out that while India produces a large number of engineers, many lack the necessary skills for research and development (R&D) work. “We need to upgrade our infrastructure, provide hands-on experience, and pay professors more to equip students for cutting-edge research,” he stated.
Referring to India’s focus on disruptive technologies, Kamat expressed optimism that the country could leapfrog and close the technological gap. He also mentioned that the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), a twin-engine combat aircraft, is expected to be delivered by 2028.
Kamat discussed the Ministry of Defence's approval of the Technology Development Fund (TDP), which aims to support high-risk projects similar to the US’ Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). He urged for an increase in India’s defence R&D budget, noting that India currently spends 0.65% of its GDP on the sector, far behind the US and China.
Regarding DRDO’s future projects, Kamat mentioned plans for high-end autonomous vehicles, robotic soldiers, and light tanks, the latter of which is in the prototype stage and expected to be delivered to the Indian Army by 2027.
Kamat also reflected on the challenges faced in the development of the Kaveri engine for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) - Tejas, calling it a “rookie mistake.” He explained that the engine did not deliver the required thrust, and the mistake was in designing the platform and engine simultaneously, rather than developing a platform around an available engine. To reduce risks in future engine development, DRDO is exploring collaboration with international original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) like Safran, Rolls-Royce, and General Electric. Both Safran and Rolls-Royce have assured that intellectual property will remain with India during collaborative development, which will significantly enhance the country's capabilities.
