Tamil Nadu: ‘Ignored’ senior clubs female student to death with wooden log

Twenty-year-old Sonali, a third year student at the Karur Engineering College, was killed in broad daylight by Udaykumar even as some of her classmates looked in shock, police said.

An engineering student was clubbed to death by her senior inside the classroom on Tuesday morning in Karur, 380 kms from Chennai.

A combination photo shows accused Udayakumar and Sonali. (HT Photo)

Twenty-year-old Sonali, a third year student at the Karur Engineering College, was killed in broad daylight by Udaykumar even as some of her classmates looked in shock, police said.

According to the police, Udayakumar entered the classroom armed with a wooden log and confronted Sonali for ignoring him. They had an argument following which Udayakumar smashed her head with the log.

A professor tried to intervene but Udayakumar attacked him also before walking out of the classroom.

A profusely bleeding Sonali was first taken to Karur Hospital where she was given first aid and then rushed to Madurai hospital, where she died.

Udayakumar was arrested soon after the incident and a case of murder registered against him.

Police said that Sonali and Udaykumar appeared to have been friendly for some time. But since Udayakumar was suspended a few days ago, Sonali had been avoiding him. Udayakumar met her at the college canteen on Tuesday. As she did not talk to him, he was infuriated. He followed her to the classroom and then hit her after the argument. A police inspector investigating the case said he hit the girl twice with the log.

The incident comes two months after IT professional Swathi was hacked to death at a railway station in Chennai by a man for rejecting him.