An engineering graduate stabbed a 16-year-old school student in Lalgudi, in what is suspected to be a case of spurned love. According to a report in The New Indian Express, the girl is believed to have turned down the graduate's advances seeking a relationship, for which he attacked her. Following this, he committed suicide by hanging himself.

 

This incident comes less than a year after the brutal murder of a 24-year-old techie on the platform of the Nungambakkam railway station in Chennai. Swathi's murder brought national attention to the crimes committed against women. Several discussions were held on the woman's right to say 'no' and stalking. 

 

The victim in this case, according to reports, was approached with a proposal from the 23-year-old graduate last week. Manikandan, the accused, according to TNIE, was from the same village. The girl rejected his proposal and informed her father, who is turn told the youth to let his daughter be.

 

But the youth, enraged by the rejection, attacked the girl with a knife on Saturday. He stabbed her in the stomach, shoulders and neck, following which she collapsed. She was immediately rushed to a nearby Primary Health Centre and then finally to Tiruchy GH, where she is undergoing treatment.

 

The attack is also similar to the one on Soniya, who was assaulted in December 2016. Her estranged lover, reportedly slit her neck at the Perungalathur bus stop in public view. This was following a heated argument amongst the both of them. She was rushed to the hospital but declared brought dead by the doctors.