The news of a research scholar at Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, allegedly killing a young girl from the North-East, has “shocked” and “embarrassed” the community of the prestigious institution.
Pushpam Sinha, a 34-year-old Ph.D. student at IIT-Delhi, allegedly strangled the girl last Saturday when she was alone at her sister’s rented flat in Munirka. He then allegedly tried to burn her face and chest to make it seem that she had died in an accidental fire.
“It is shocking and embarrassing. Counselling alone does not help. Apart from skills and technical education, we must impart some awareness of male-female complementarities,” said a faculty member who did not wish to be named.
“It has to be at the root of all learning and education in this country that we have to respect the women around us,” he added.
Another senior faculty member admitted that the incident was unsettling and “very unbecoming of an IITian”. A research scholar pointed out that a Ph.D. degree involved high levels of doggedness and constant toiling, leading to frustration in some students.
Remanded to police custody
PTI reports:
Pushpam Sinha was remanded to one-day police custody by a Delhi court on Monday. The accused who the police say has confessed to his complicity in the offence is yet to be interrogated further to unravel the entire chain of events.
