Even though a 23-year-old is being hailed for her 'brave' and 'courageous' act, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has said that a woman who chopped off the genitals of a 'godman' should have approached the police.

Refusing to suffer any more, a law student chopped off the genitals of a man who had allegedly been raping her for the last six years and tried to do the same again on Friday night.

The accused — 54-year-old Gangeshananda Theerthapada alias Hariswami — who claims to be a sanyasi, has been arrested.

“There is something gratifying about such swift justice but she would have better taken the matter to the police rather than taking the law into her own hands (sic)," Tharoor said speaking to CNN-News18.com.

Further stating that he sympathise with the girl, as most people would, Tharoor added, "We need a society where justice prevails, not one where every individual seeks it with a knife in her hand."

The incident came to light after the man, who claims to be an inmate of Panmana Ashram in Kollam, was admitted to the government medical college hospital here with critical injuries in the wee hours, the police said.

Hariswami, known to the girl's family, had been frequenting her house in Pettah for several years to perform 'puja' aimed at bringing relief to her paralysed and bed- ridden father, police said quoting the victim.

During those visits over the last six years, the accused would allegedly rape the girl, whenever he found a chance, according to the police.

He allegedly tried to rape her again on Friday night but the girl protested and chopped off his genitals with a knife, the police added quoting the girl's complaint.

A case has been registered against him under various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and IPC 376 (punishment for rape).

No case has been registered against the girl, the police added.

The man reportedly told police that he had chopped off his genitals himself.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan hailed the woman's act as "brave" and "courageous". "It was a courageous step, no doubt about it," he told reporters here and promised all support to the girl from the government.

State Women's Commission member Prameela Devi expressed shock over the incident and said the girl was forced to take the extreme step after suffering years of harassment, pain and humiliation.

(With agency inputs)