Attack on student shows patriarchal mindset: Student group

The sensational incident where an obsessive lover studying at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) drank poison and slashed a girl is a proof of "deep-rooted patriarchy," a representative of the varsity's student union said Wednesday.

"This is a shocking incident and the whole university is stunned and sad. It shows the deep-rooted patriarchy that exists in our society even today," JNU Students Union (JNUSU) joint secretary Piyush Raj told IANS.

"This incident should be seen in isolation as in the last 40 years we have never witnessed such an incident in the campus," he added.

According to former JNUSU president Sucheta De, the problem is about the perception of some people and how they view women.

"It is time to introspect. The university has institutions dealing with gender equality and sensitisation, but more education is needed," said De, the general secretary of All India Student's Association (AISA), which holds three of the top four JNUSU posts.

Raj said that broader consultations were the need of the hour and vowed to intensify JNUSU's campaign to sensitise students about gender issues.

"We have been committed towards this but after this incident we will surely intensify our campaign," he said.

The shocking incident took place at around 11 a.m. Wednesday in the sprawling JNU campus of India's premier university known for being a hub of radical thinking and leftist ideology.

Akash, 23, armed with a pistol, an axe, a knife and a bottle of poison, calmly walked into Room Number 213 of the School of Languages between two classes when not many students were present, and screamed at Roshani, 22, asking her to accompany him. When she refused, he drank poison and slashed her.