Karur student meets with Swathi’s fate

According to reports, P Udayakumar (24), a resident of Vengalur, near Paramakudi in Ramanathapuram is a third year civil engineering student at Karur College of Engineering. He was reportedly in love with his class mate K Sonali (22) who hails from Manamadurai in Sivaganga district. However, she did not reciprocate his feelings.

Udayakumar had been placed under suspension for six months for allegedly ransacking college property. On Tuesday his suspension period was over and he returned to college. He promised his professors that he would conduct himself properly and appealed to them to permit him to attend class. Trusting him and wanting to give him a chance to reform himself, the professors reportedly permitted him to attend the classes.

However, Udayakuamr allegedly had an ulterior motive in returning to college. Arriving in the class at around 11.30 am, he is said to have searched for Sonali as he could not spot her in her usual seat. When informed that she was part of a study group on another floor, preparing for a test, Udayakumar is said to have rushed there. He then allegedly attacked her brutally, hitting her head with a wooden log he had brought with him, repeatedly. When Sonali collapsed in a pool of blood, Udayakumar fled the scene.

Meanwhile, professors and other college officials who heard the commotion rushed to the spot. They took Sonali to Karur Apollo hospital, who referred her to Madurai Apollo hospital. But she succumbed to her injuries, compounded by the heavy loss of blood at around 3.30 pm. Acting swiftly, Karur police secured Udayakumar at Manmangalam on the Karur-Salem road. Further investigations are on. 

The crime comes weeks after the brutal murder of S Swathi, employed in Infosys on June 24 this year at the Nungambakkam railway station. She was hacked to death with a machete in full public view and police arrested Ramkumar as the prime suspect. He was reportedly in love with Swathi.