College girl murdered by stalker in broad daylight in Chennai

In yet another horrifying case of stalking, a girl was murdered near her college in K.K. Nagar here on Friday by a man who was known to her for some years.

The police said M. Aswini, 20, of Madhuravoyal was a first year B.Com student at the Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research. When she was walking to her relative’s place after college around 2.30 p.m. on Friday, Alagesan, 26, who was known to her since her school days, intercepted her and tried to force her to marry him.

In the heated argument that followed, Alagesan stabbed Aswini with a long knife, causing a grievous injury on her neck. Two college students rushed her to a nearby hospital, where she was declared dead. Alagesan was carrying a can of kerosene apparently with an intention to commit suicide. However, passersby overpowered him and thrashed him. The police took him to a government hospital.

Police warning

The police said Alagesan, a temporary worker with Chennai Corporation, had been stalking Aswini, asking her to marry him.

He had gone to her house and threatened to tie a mangalsutra. On February 16, the Maduravoyal police warned him not to trouble the girl. No further action was taken against him at the request of Aswini’s family, the police said. After the incident, Aswini had been staying in her uncle Sampath’s house in Jafferkhanpet for the past 20 days.

“Based on advice from the police, we did not allow her to go to college,” said Mr. Sampath, who was at the K.K. Nagar police station.

But, Aswini wanted to attend college as her exams were approaching

Her body was shifted to the Kilpauk Medical College for post-mortem.

Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam said: “I am shocked and saddened by the murder of college student Aswini in K.K. Nagar. Such inhuman acts are unacceptable. Rational youth must help Tamil Nadu keep its head high.