In a chilling incident, a student who had come to her college to write her examination was murdered in broad daylight in Kerala's Kottayam district. The incident happened at the campus of St Thomas College Pala in Kottayam around 11.30 am, while others were present on the campus.
The deceased has been identified as Nidhina Mol, a student of Food Technology at the college. Her classmate Abhishek Baiju who killed her by slitting her throat has been taken into custody by the police.
"The incident happened in the afternoon. The couple were earlier in a relationship," police had earlier said. Witnesses told the media that they both quarreled after which he slashed her neck with some sharp object.
Expressing concern over the incident, Higher Education Minister R Bindhu said girls too have the freedom to choose and the state government will take steps to defend their rights.
Bindhu told the media that it was worrisome that such incidents are repeating among youngsters in a society like Kerala.
"The incident points to the lack of mental well-being among youngsters. It also indicates the importance they attach to the idea of "possessing" things that they set their minds on.... which has its roots in social attitudes that attach importance to acquiring things. It's highly condemnable that love ends in revengeful murder," she said.
The Minister also said that the government will strengthen the Jeevani project in government colleges for counselling the students. "Girls too have the freedom and right to choose. That cannot be ignored. We will take steps to defend their rights," the Higher education minister said.
The state has witnessed similar incidents in the last one year with the latest in August when a 24-year old Dental student was shot and killed by a youth who later killed himself.
(with PTI inputs)
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