Maharashtra: University to offer counselling after PhD student's immolation attempt

NEW DELHI: After a PhD student allegedly set himself on fire and also caused a woman to suffer serious burn injuries, the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University (BAMU) here has decided to provide on-campus counselling.

The varsity will rope in its Psychology department and some NGOs for this, Vice Chancellor, Pramod Yeole said on Wednesday. "There are problems like students lacking confidence, among others. The professors and other staff will also be asked to be friendly to students so that they can share their issues freely," he added.

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The PhD student allegedly set himself on fire and tried to kill his girlfriend by hugging her inside the cabin of an assistant professor. The accused has been identified as 30-year-old Gajanan Munde, who hails from Gangakhed in Parbhani. The preliminary probe has revealed that Munde was upset with his girlfriend - 28-year-old Pooja Salve - for turning down his marriage proposal. He suffered 80 per cent burns and the woman sustained 40 to 50 per cent burn injuries.

"The accused tailed Salve to GIS, and when she entered the assistant professor's cabin, he too barged in with a container full of petrol-like substance. He aggressively started asking why Salve had turned down his proposal," said one of the employees at GIS to TOI. Before anyone had the time to react, Munde locked the cabin from inside, trapping both Salve and Wadekar in with him. He doused himself in fuel and used a lighter to set himself ablaze. Munde then hugged Salve.

BAMU has issued a statement saying that a three-member committee has been formed for a fact-finding initiative. Headed by the university registrar, the committee has been asked to submit its report within two days.