Coming at the close heels of international women’s day, an 18-year-old girl M Aswini from Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research was murdered in broad daylight outside her college by a youth on Friday. One Alagesan slit her throat with a weapon that he was carrying with him when he met her. The girl, who struggled for life passed away on the spot while the public nabbed the youth and thrashed him.

Following the disturbing pattern of young women being slayed publicly in Chennai, Behindwoods contacted a top police official who requested anonymity, on what can be done if one were to witness such a crime.

He said, “In the case of Swathi’s murder, nobody approached the girl to give first aid or nab the accused, while in the case of Aswini, the accused was nabbed and thrashed. Public should make sure that they don’t let the accused escape but they don’t have the rights to beat him. However, it is understandable that they would have thrashed him in a fit of rage.”

Reportedly, Alagesan was warned by police after parents of Aswini complained at Maduravoyal police station.

What typically happens in such cases?

The police official said, depending on the intensity of the case, they tackle the accused in two ways.

1. Calling the accused and warning him of an arrest if the complaint(s) grows. This will be followed in minor crimes, considering the life of the accused too.

2. Filing case and arrest. When the victim is under serious threat, the accused has to be arrested in order to make sure that the victim is put under safe conditions.
 

Aswini’s body is kept at Kilpauk Government Hospital for post-mortem and Alagesan is in a private hospital at KK Nagar to get treated for his injuries.