edited by: Revathi Hariharan
Last Update: February 25, 2023, 08:44 IST
Vimukta Sharma has reportedly suffered over 90 per cent burns. (Representational Image: Shutterstock)
Vimukta Sharma, 54, principal of BM College of Pharmacy, located in Indore’s Simrol area, was battling for her life at a nearby hospital after she was set on fire by a former student of the institute on February 20.
The principal of a private college, which was set on fire by a former student, died in Indore on Saturday morning. The shocking incident took place last week and the principal’s daughter alleged that the Indore police did not act on her complaint of threatening messages sent to the principal.
Vimukta Sharma, 54, principal of BM College of Pharmacy located in Simrol area in Indore, was battling for her life at a nearby hospital after she was set on fire by an alumnus of the institute on February 20.
The accused, Ashutosh Srivastava, 24, allegedly poured petrol and set the principal on fire over delay in receiving his B.Pharma marksheet. Vimukta Sharma has reportedly suffered over 90 per cent burns.
The victim’s daughter told PTI, “Srivastava had sent threatening messages on WhatsApp before setting my mother on fire. She was very tense after getting the message. A complaint has been lodged with the police.”
“It is unfortunate that the police did not take any action on the complaint. If the police had acted promptly, my mother would not have been harmed,” she said, demanding strictest punishment for the accused.
Srivastava was earlier booked under section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Those charges will likely be changed after the principal’s death.
Superintendent of Police (Rural) Bhagwat Singh Virde said the incident was being probed, but threat messages were sent to the principal long ago and nothing recently.
The management of the institute said that Srivastava had “criminal tendencies”. According to police, Srivastava had allegedly stabbed Dr Vijay Patel, an assistant professor in the college, over a similar dispute regarding his marksheet in October last year.
The police officer said Srivastava was arrested in that case then, but was later released on bail.
The college management said that the accused was putting undue pressure on the principal to withdraw the four-month-old case against him.
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