Police intensify probe into IIT Palakkad attack

Police on Wednesday stepped up investigation into the attack on a woman student on the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus and the Special Investigation Team (SIT) launched a detailed probe.

The SIT, led by Town Police Station Inspector M. Sujit, started examining CCTV cameras at various parts of the campus.

Police also searched for the gun used in the attack, suspecting that the attacker might have thrown the gun somewhere inside the building after the incident.

The attack took place on Monday night when Aswini Kannan, a fourth-year BTech Data Science student from Salem, Tamil Nadu, was walking towards the mess from her hostel with her friends.

A man reportedly wearing a blue shirt was following behind the group when he hit him in the head with a wooden plank.

Ms Kannan suffered a deep injury extending from her forehead to the area above her eye and underwent surgery at a hospital in Coimbatore. IIT Palakkad officials, citing his doctor parents, said he was recovering.

Police suspect the attack was premeditated and say it took place in a poorly lit area of ​​the campus not covered by security cameras. Investigators suspected that the choice of location indicated advance planning.

In response, IIT Palakkad authorities tightened campus security. Institute consultant MK Unni said additional security cameras will be installed, lighting will be improved and more security personnel will be deployed.

“Night patrols have been intensified across the campus,” Mr. Unni said, underlining the management’s efforts to reassure students and staff.