Infy woman employee attacked with blade

Techie slashes own wrist after attack on childhood friend; police say he may be jilted lover

Infy woman employee attacked with blade

Techie slashes own wrist after attack on childhood friend; police say he may be jilted lover

A 24-year-old woman working with Infosys was yesterday attacked with a blade, allegedly by an out-of-job IT engineer with whom the police said the victim might have refused to have a relationship. The police said the techie attempted suicide by slashing his wrist after the attack on the woman, a childhood friend of his.

The crime spot: A team of the forensic wing of the police collects
evidence from the spot outside Sushila hostel

The incident took place around 6.30 pm outside the Sushila hostel in Sadashiv Peth where the victim, Niharika Prasad (24), lived. Her attacker was identified as Amitkumar Sharma (24), who was staying at a lodge on Karve Road.

In Sadashiv Peth where Niharika Prasad was attacked yesterday. Niharika
and her alleged attacker, Amitkumar Sharma, were said to be out of danger.
Pic/Salil Urankar

The police said Prasad and Sharma, who both hailed from Patna, were admitted to hospital and out of danger.
"Both are out of danger and their statements will be recorded soon," said Assistant Police Inspector Balasaheb Kale from Dattawadi police station. "Prasad has been living in Pune since 2005. She began working with Infosys in the accounts department after completing her ICWA course. Sharma had completed his engineering from Nagpur and had done an IT course from Seed Infotech."

The officer said Prasad had been living in the hostel for two years, and Sharma used to drop her there many times. "Sharma arrived in an autorickshaw outside the Sushila hostel on Sunday evening, around 6.15 pm. Prasad was about to leave for Hyderabad for a company training session when he called her outside," said Kale. "He offered to drop her to the station, but she refused. He might also have requested for a relationship, which was also turned down by Prasad, which angered him and he attacked her with a blade, the kind that is often used to cut thermocol."

Prasad was severely injured in the attack and received injuries on her hand and neck, while Sharma injured his hand. Prasad was admitted to the Bhave hospital near Neelayam theatre, while Sharma underwent an operation at the Poona Hospital on Lal Bahadur Shastri Road.

Sunil Pandey, the watchman deployed at the hostel gate, rushed to the crime spot when he heard screams of some girls who had seen Sharma attack Prasad. He said some nearby residents took Prasad to hospital in a car, while Sharma was taken to hospital on a motorbike.