Latest news with #MTech
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
MTech Engineer Turned Burglar Nabbed After Hitting Nagpur Houses
Nagpur: A former software engineer with an MTech degree, Ashish Reddimalla, was arrested in Chandrapur on Saturday for his alleged involvement in a series of burglaries across Nagpur. The Dhantoli police, after a month-long investigation involving the scrutiny of 200 CCTV cameras, cracked five burglary cases in areas like Dhantoli, Ajni, and Sonegaon, recovering stolen goods worth Rs2.33 lakh from the accused. Reddimalla, employed at an IT firm in Mihan until 2020, reportedly turned to crime to settle a Rs23 lakh debt accrued due to a gambling addiction. His sophisticated background made him an unlikely suspect, allowing him to blend seamlessly into urban settings. "It's tough to suspect Reddimalla. He conducted reconnaissance with a bag on his shoulder, appearing anything but a thief," said senior inspector Anamika Mirzapure, who led the operation under the supervision of ACP Sudhir Nandeshwar and DCP Rahul Madane. The police investigation revealed that Reddimalla, familiar with Nagpur's localities like Dhantoli, Ajni Square, Sonegaon, and Chhatrapati Nagar Chowk from his years working in the city, meticulously planned his heists. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Discover the best investment opportunity. سالك Learn More Undo He had also broken into the residence of a govt employee, who had been shattered by the suicide of a teenager. Operating after 2am, he used an iron rod to break locks and latches, swiftly looting homes before returning to Chandrapur by bus with the stolen goods. His methodical approach and knowledge of the city's layout made him elusive until a breakthrough came via CCTV footage. A crucial lead emerged when police obtained footage capturing Reddimalla's image, which an informer later identified, enabling the Dhantoli police to track him to Chandrapur. Sub-inspector Dhanaji Marakwad and his team worked tirelessly, analysing hours of CCTV recordings to piece together the suspect's movements. This arrest marks the third time Reddimalla was apprehended, having been caught twice earlier by Chandrapur police for similar offences. The case highlights the growing challenge of urban crime involving educated individuals driven by addiction. Reddimalla's arrest has brought relief to residents in the affected areas, with police urging citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities. The recovered items, including valuables worth Rs2.33 lakh and a lot of euro and dollar currency notes, are being returned to their rightful owners as investigations continue to uncover any additional crimes linked to the accused. Authorities are also probing whether Reddimalla operated alone or had accomplices in his burglary spree.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
IIT-BHU's new UG curriculum offers more flexibility
Varanasi: The IIT-BHU has announced significant changes in its B Tech curriculum to align with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, offering more flexibility and opportunities. The changes will be implemented from academic session 2025-26. Dean (academic affairs) prof Devendra Singh said that from the fourth semester onwards, students will have five academic pathways to choose from, based on merit and their preferences. From the fifth semester, BTech students with a minor can take 4-6 courses in another discipline while BTech students can complete a second major alongside their primary major, extending the program to 10 semesters. BTech students can complete under IDD, extending the program to 10 semesters. A student enrolled in a four-year BTech program can earn a minor degree by completing a minimum of four and a maximum of six courses in another engineering discipline during the fifth, seventh, and eighth semesters. About the BTech second major, he said that a student who initially pursued a Minor and then completes the 10-semester curriculum in the second discipline will earn a Second Major degree, effectively graduating with degrees in two engineering disciplines. Students who initially opt for a Minor can later switch to the Second Major track based on seat availability and merit. Associate dean (academic) Prof Indrajit Sinha highlighted that students can also earn the Integrated Dual Degree program for BTech and MTech degree in a single discipline within 10 semesters. Architecture (B Arch) students in the five-year program are also eligible for the Minor and Second Major options, with the latter extending the program to six years. tnn Prof Singh elaborated that the traditional branch-change system after the first year has been discontinued. Instead, students can diversify by adding a Minor or Second Major without changing their primary branch. He also noted that the sixth semester of every B Tech program has been earmarked for industrial or research internships, giving students hands-on experience and stronger industry connections. IIT (BHU) has also implemented a Multiple Exit Framework, which allows students to exit the programme at different stages based on earned credits. Prof Singh further shared that the institute has launched an MTech programme in Medical Devices to bridge engineering and healthcare. Additionally, AI-based industry-focussed courses are being launched in collaboration with the Saras AI Institute, and a standards-focused course is proposed in partnership with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Director of IIT (BHU) Prof Amit Patra emphasized that the new curriculum promotes holistic education and interdisciplinary dialogue, giving students the freedom to tailor their academic journey while ensuring a strong foundation in their core discipline. He stated, "This curriculum is a major step towards nurturing graduates who are not only academically strong but also socially conscious and industry-ready, keeping pace with modern-day requirements. "
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
09-06-2025
- Health
- First Post
‘Vomited, tried cleaning it up': Family questions IIT Delhi scholar's death on campus
A 25-year-old PhD student at IIT Delhi was found dead in his hostel room on Wednesday under mysterious circumstances. The family, while speaking exclusively to Firstpost, has ruled out suicide as the cause of death. read more Ayush Singhal, a 25-year-old PhD student in Biomedical Engineering at IIT Delhi, was found dead in his hostel room on Wednesday. His family, who remember him as a bright and diligent scholar with aspirations to advance biomedical research after initially studying dentistry, do not believe he died by suicide and suspect other causes instead. 'He had returned from AIIMS, where he was working on a project, had his dinner, and went for a walk with a friend. On Wednesday, when we couldn't get in touch with him, we informed the university,' said his maternal uncle, Harish Garg. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He said, 'There were anti-vomiting medicines and a bottle of ORS near him. It looked like he had tried to clean up vomit beside his bed'. Singhal's PhD research was based at IIT Delhi, with much of his lab work conducted at AIIMS. After the administration intervened, his room door was forcibly opened, and he was found unresponsive on his bed. There were no visible external injuries, but vomit on the floor suggested possible health complications. 'It could be food poisoning or a heart attack. We will know more after the post-mortem,' Garg said. The family is awaiting the outcome of the post-mortem at Safdarjung Hospital. His mother fainted at the hospital due to the shock. Singhal is survived by his mother and younger sister; his father, a dentist, passed away in 2002. IIT Delhi officials expressed deep grief over the incident and extended full support to the family. Dean of Student Affairs, Professor BK Panigrahi, is reported to have written an email to students, urging them to seek counselling if needed and emphasised the importance of supporting each other during this difficult time. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This death has drawn attention to a worrying pattern on the IIT Delhi campus, where several students have died under similar circumstances. Official records, cited in media reports, indicate that at least 12 students have died on campus between 2006 and 2024, with many cases involving isolation and delayed discovery of the body. The majority were male students, and the deaths span undergraduate to PhD levels, with some ruled suicides and others under investigation. Current and former students describe a culture of intense academic pressure and social isolation, especially among PhD scholars, who often have small social circles confined mostly to their labs. Safety protocols limiting hostel room access have inadvertently reduced peer interaction, making it difficult to check on students who become unresponsive. One PhD student, quoted by The Indian Express, said, 'The life of a PhD student is completely different in an IIT. We are in our own world and more isolated than the rest of the MTech or BTech students. Our social circles are small, and mostly our peers in the labs would know more about what is happening with us than the ones in the hostel or other friends on campus.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Following up on previous demands, IIT Delhi had commissioned an external committee to examine the institutional environment related to student suicides. The report, submitted in August 2024, highlighted high academic pressure, toxic competitiveness, and also indicated caste and gender discrimination as key issues. However, the institute only publicly acknowledged these findings in April 2025 and is now working on a comprehensive action plan to improve student support structures. The circumstances surrounding Ayush Singhal's death remain under investigation by the Delhi Police, with the post-mortem report awaited to clarify the cause. Family and friends have not raised suspicions of foul play, but the family's doubts about suicide persist.
Indian Express
05-06-2025
- Indian Express
IIT Delhi stares at a challenge: 12 students have died on campus since 2006, show its records
An ambulance sat parked outside Dronagiri hostel of IIT Delhi in the afternoon sun as a 30-year-old PhD student hurried past on Wednesday. He had spent another grueling day in the lab, the familiar rhythm of research and deadlines filling his mind. But the sight of the emergency vehicle outside made him stop and look. 'That is when I realised something had happened,' he would later recall. What he didn't know yet was that inside the hostel, another student was found dead — the body undiscovered for days. Ayush Singhal, a 25-year-old student pursuing a PhD in Biomedical Engineering, had not been seen or heard from since Monday night. When his body was finally discovered on Wednesday, it marked yet another pointer to what appears to be a pattern of students disappearing into their rooms, cut off from the world, until the smell of a decomposing body alerts their neighbours. The cause of death of the student is yet to be declared. According to official records accessed by The Indian Express, at least 12 students have died on the IIT Delhi campus between 2006 and 2024, with 10 of them being male students and two female. The deaths span across different academic programmes —from undergraduate, postgraduate to PhD students—but share common threads: isolation, delayed discovery, and rooms locked from the inside. Six of 12 students belonged to the Scheduled Caste Communities, two from the OBC background, and four from the General category. Five of these deaths were suicides that took place in 2023 and 2024, with the most recent in October 2024. Two were reported in the year 2021. All students were campus residents. In September 2023, a 21-year-old BTech student from the SC community was found hanging in his hostel room in a decomposed state. Just months earlier, in July 2023, another 20-year-old BTech student was discovered hanging after his family traveled to Delhi when he stopped responding to calls and texts for two days. 'The life of a PhD student is completely different in an IIT,' explains the 30-year-old student who saw the ambulance on Wednesday. 'We are in our own world and more isolated than the rest of the MTech or BTech students. Our social circles are small, and mostly our peers in the labs would know more about what is happening with us than the ones in the hostel or other friends on campus.' On Wednesday evening, B.K. Panigrahi, Dean, Student Affairs, wrote an email to students: 'While we try to deal with the terrible pain and sorrow, the loss to his family and friends is unimaginable. This challenging time reminds us of the constant need to be there for each other. You are also requested to reach out to the multiple counselling avenues in our system if you need help in coping with this tragedy. Of course, all faculty and administration are also there for any support.' 'Every time a student dies, the administration tells us we must be there for each other, but nothing changes,' he adds. At Dronagiri hostel, one of the newest facilities on campus, students said safety protocols designed to protect both male and female students have created an unintended consequence: friends from other hostels cannot visit rooms, limiting interactions to common areas or outside spaces. 'How would a friend check if the student is not picking up their phone or has not been responding?' asked a 27-year-old fifth-year PhD student who formerly lived at Dronagiri. While undergraduate students grapple with coursework and semester grades, PhD students face a different challenge entirely. 'The academic pressure for PhD students is very different compared to BTech students,' explained another student. 'For PhD students, the pressure is to make nice with the supervisor and to be on good terms as the grading and support on campus depend upon them.' Perhaps most troubling is how normalised this isolation has become, some of them feel. The gender dimension of this crisis cannot be ignored. A day scholar pursuing his fifth year of PhD at IIT Delhi said, 'The culture of socialisation is very poor amongst male students on campus as compared to female students. When I look at my female student friends on campus, they have a better social group and an outlet to release their pressure. But for male students, that seems difficult. They don't share campus pressure at home or with friends, they tend to cope with it by themselves.' The campus data supports this observation—of the 12 recorded deaths, only two were female. 'Just because we have managed to secure admission at IIT, it is an unsaid thing on campus—it is expected of us to deal with the pressure,' said the 30-year-old student. The solution, according to students, lies not just in mental health resources but in fundamental changes to campus culture. 'There needs to be more initiatives from the administration's side to promote social interaction within hostel campuses,' suggests the day scholar. 'The healthy conversation about academic pressure is still not happening amongst students. It is more prevalent in the case of younger students doing their undergraduation as this conversation doesn't happen even amongst their groups.' The Indian Express reached out to Public Relations Officer Shiv Yadav and Director Rangan Banerjee over calls, messages, and emails, but received no response in the matter. Last year, after students demanded that IIT Delhi set up an external committee to examine the 'institutional processes and environment' in the context of student suicides. The panel's report, submitted in August 2024, flagged high academic pressure, a grading system that reinforces 'toxic competitiveness,' and caste and gender discrimination as key triggers on campus. However, it was learnt and earlier reported by The Indian Express that the report languished without response for months—even as another student died by suicide in October 2024, a month after the panel submitted its recommendations. It wasn't until April 2025 that IIT Delhi publicly acknowledged the findings, admitting that factors affecting student well-being—from 'excessively competitive environments' and 'coaching culture' to 'social biases of caste and gender'—had been 'identified by the institute and discussed at multiple forums.' The institution stated it is developing a 'comprehensive action plan' to strengthen student support structures, with the report to be tabled before the Institute's Board of Governors along with implementation measures.
The Hindu
30-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
VTU Kalaburagi Regional Centre distributes laptops among SC/ST students
In an initiative aimed at bridging the digital divide and promoting inclusive education, the Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) Regional Centre in Kalaburagi distributed laptops to 70 eligible students from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities. The distribution ceremony took place at the VTU's Regional Centre for Postgraduate Studies in Kalaburagi on Friday. Beneficiaries included students from MTech programmes (CSE, VLSI, CCT, and CHT), MCA, MBA, and undergraduate courses in Computer Science and Electronics. Addressing the students on the occasion, B. Shambhu Lingappa, director of VTU's Regional Centre for Postgraduate Studies, Kalaburagi, lauded VTU Vice-Chancellor S. Vidyashankar for consistently prioritising student welfare and holistic development. 'Mr. Vidyashankar's initiatives to distribute laptops among the students from marginalised sections for enhancing the academic and technical proficiency of students is commendable. This initiative, spearheaded by VTU's SC/ST Cell, is a significant step towards ensuring equal access to digital resources and fostering educational empowerment. It reflects the university's commitment to supporting students from disadvantaged communities in their academic pursuits. The procurement and implementation of the laptop distribution programme was made possible through the efforts of Pralhad Rathod, Liaison Officer (Belagavi), who played a pivotal role in its execution,' he said. He also reaffirmed VTU's dedication to providing all students with an equitable and technologically advanced learning environment by stating that the initiative marked another significant stride towards empowering students from underprivileged backgrounds and reducing the digital divide in higher education. Programme coordinators M.A. Waheed, Satish Upalonkar, and Brijbhushan, SC/ST Coordinator Rahul Moolbharati were present.
