Stalker stabs minor to death near Mahabs

While the girl, J Lavanya, a Class 11 student, died without responding to treatment at a private hospital on Thursday evening, the police launched a hunt for the suspect identified as Ashok alias Durga Rao (21) of Andhra Pradesh.

The police said that Lavanya’s father Jeyaraj of Pattipulam near Mamallpuaram was a mason and Durga Rao of Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh was working under him.

It is said that Durga Rao mistook Lavanya’s casual talks for love and expressed his interest to marry her. While Lavanya turned down his proposal, Durga Rao allegedly continued to stalk her.

Four months ago, Durga Rao went to the extent of asking Jeyaraj to give his daughter’s hand in marriage and reportedly threatened to kidnap Lavanya. Out of fear, Jeyaraj denied work to him and sent him back to Andhra Pradesh. He also stopped sending his daughter to school. Durga Rao, who returned to Mamallapuram a few days ago, tried to meet Lavanya again.

After learning that she does not attend school anymore, on Thursday morning, he entered her house when she was alone and asked her to come with her. When she refused, he stabbed her several times with a knife he had with him and fled the spot.

Hearing her cries for help, neighbours rushed her to a private hospital in Kelambakkam, where she died without responding to treatment a few hours later. The Mamallapuram police have registered a case for murder and have launched a hunt for Durga Rao.