Dismissal from job makes Jothimani to stab Professor

The incident happened in the morning when Jenefa reached the university campus and went inside her cabin. Shortly, Jothimani entered her cabin and there was some heated argument between the two. As the argument intensified, Jothimani took the knife out and stabbed her in the neck and back. Also, he inflicted many cuts on her.

He ran out of the cabin, but was caught by the students and lecturers, who beat Jothimani black and blue and handed him over to police. In the meantime, the students rescued Jenefa and she was taken to a private hospital, where she was admitted at the emergency care unit and then shifted to the Intensive Care Unit. 

Nagamalai Pudukottai Police carried out an investigation on the university campus with her colleagues and students. Later, police said that Jothimani worked as a guest lecturer at MKU in 2016, but due to his unpleasant behaviour with some of the girl students in the department, he was shown the door by Jenefa. He tried desperately to get back the job, but Jenefa refused to admit him.

He also tried to apply for a Ph.D. programme under Jenefa’s guidance, but for four months now, Jenefa had refused to accept him as her student. Also, Jothimani married a government servant recently and at the time of marriage he had said that he was a guest lecturer. 

As he was removed from the job, there was pressure from his wife too and so out of despair and grudge against Jenefa he attempted to murder her. There were cut marks at 21 spots in her body, but all were not so deep and so there is no problem for the life of Jenefa, said police. 

Vice Chancellor of MKU PP Chelladurai, who visited the injured professor in the hospital, said that Jenefa had not informed the management about the issue earlier and if she had reported it earlier, it would have been addressed properly. 

He also said that Jothimani was doing a part time Ph.D. at MKU and his degree would be terminated. Also, the security measures on the university campus would be strengthened to prevent any such event in future, said Chelladurai. 

Commenting on the incident, Madurai Collector K Veera Raghava Rao said that the incident was highly unfortunate and police under Madurai SP are investigating it.