Bengaluru: A shocking midday murder has stunned the city after 20-year-old, first-year B.Pharma student was found dead with throat and facial wounds near the railway tracks behind Mantri Mall, Malleswaram. According to various media accounts, authorities believe the crime was carried out by a spurned lover who had allegedly been stalking her. As per police and eyewitness accounts, Yamini Priya had left home around 7 a.m. on Thursday to sit for an exam but did not return. Around 2:15 p.m., as she walked near the metro and mall area, a youth riding a two-wheeler is alleged to have intercepted her from behind. Reports state he first threw chili powder or a corrosive substance at her face, then proceeded to slit her throat and attack her face with a knife. Despite locals rushing to her aid, Yamini succumbed to her injuries on the spot due to excessive bleeding. Police confirmed that Yamini was a first-year B.Pharma student at a college in Hosakerehalli. She had been returning from her exam when the attack occurred. Her residence was in Swatantra Palya, and investigators say both victim and accused were from the same neighborhood. The accused has been identified as Vignesh (23), a man who allegedly harassed her for months after she rejected his romantic advances. Also Read:Patna Shocker: Pharma Representative Brutally Murdered, Probe Underway The New Indian Expressreports that the murder was apparently precipitated by Yamini’s refusal of Vignesh’s persistent proposals. Months ago, he had reportedly tied a yellow thread around her neck in a symbolic gesture of union, claiming they were married. After Yamini distanced herself, the stalking intensified. The day of the attack, Vignesh is stated to have waited for her near the Indira Canteen and then ambushed her while she walked home. Police registered a murder case under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Srirampura Police Station. As per a recent media report inThe Hindu, authorities suspect a revenge motive stemming from her rejection. They have launched a manhunt, scouring CCTV footage, tracing the accused’s last known movements, and questioning witnesses. Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Babasab Nemagoud said preliminary evidence suggests the suspect and victim were acquainted, and that he may be from the same locality. With the accused still at large, Bengaluru’s law enforcement agencies have come under pressure to act swiftly and bring the perpetrator to justice.