Spurned lover stabs woman in public view

Chennai: A 21-year-old call center employee was stabbed by her former colleague at T.Nagar on Friday morning as she spurned his proposal for love. The accused was caught by the public and handed over to police. Around 8.45 am, S. Roopashree, a resident of Alapakkam, was walking towards her office when the accused confronted her. The incident unfolded in front of a petrol bunk as staff and customers witnessed the scene.

“The man first held the girl by her hair and slapped her. We did not interfere as it seemed like a personal issue between them,” a staff at the petrol bunk told DC on condition of anonymity. However, within seconds, the man took out a knife and rained blows at Roopashree. “She initially suffered a cut in her left hand when she tried to save herself from his attack. The man then attacked her torso and right arm which started bleeding,” said an eyewitness.

Subsequently, a few women customers at the petrol bunk rushed to the aid of the girl and got her admitted to a hospital while the public caught hold of the man and handed him to a beat personnel. He was later taken to the Pondy Bazaar Police station. “The accused, S. Hemanth Kumar (24) is a resident of Selaiyur. The two of them earlier worked together in Ambattur Industrial estate and Roopashree had turned down his proposals since then,” said an investigating officer.

Since the man kept on pestering her, the woman quit the company and joined another call centre in T.Nagar, police said. The accused has been remanded in judicial custody. “The girl is stable and out of danger. She is under treatment at a private hospital,” said G.Venkatesan, inspector, Pondy Bazaar.