Sources said the incident occurred around noon when Garima Singh, a student of electronics and telecom engineering, was accosted and stabbed by a masked man as she was going for classes. She sustained injuries on her face, throat and arms. She was immediately taken to the KPC medical college and hospital.

Garima, originally from Shillong, had completed her schooling in Germany and joined the university this year to study electronics. She was living as a paying guest near the university campus.

Pradip Ghosh, JU registrar, said: “The student has informed us that a man used to bother her near the university gates and would often try to talk to her. She is, however, not sure whether it is the same person, as the attacker’s face was covered.”

Ghosh added that the university will offer the girl accommodation in the hostel for safety. The police will have full access to the hostel to continue with their investigation, he said.

With very few security personnel at their disposal, university authorities have expressed their inability to keep the campus safe. They have now asked the police to increase vigilance near the university.