Express News Service By

CHENNAI: A young woman, working in the IT major Infosys, was brutally hacked to death at Nungambakkam railway station in Chennai on Friday morning. The incident took place around 6.30 am when she was waiting to board train for work.

The victim was identified by police sources as S Swathi, unmarried and aged 24, and a resident of South Gangai Amman Koil Street, Choolaimedu, a congested residential area just adjoining the Nungambakkam railway station.

According to local sources, Swathi was waiting at the second platform when a young man, wearing green shirt and black pants, approached her. After a few minutes of heated arguments, the man had took out a sickle from a travel bag he was carrying and assaulted her. The victim had tried to escape, but lost balance and fell on the ground.

Shopkeepers in the platform said that they and other passengers at the station were taken by shock and had little time to intervene before the assailant vanished from the spot.

Swathi was left to bleed to death with several cut injuries on her face and neck on the railway platform, which is frequented thousands of passengers every day.

Its a routine for Swathi to take the suburban train to reach her work place at Mahindra Tech park near Maraimalai Nagar, in the outskirts of the city. On return from work, she usually take the bus drop offered by the company.

As usual, her father Santhana Gopalakrishnan, an retired Central govt employee, had dropped her in the station a few minutes before the shocking incident.

From the preliminary clues, police suspect the assailant to be someone acquainted to Swathi. Police are speaking to her relatives and friends to find out whom they suspect on.

Police sources said there was no CCTV installed in the Nungambakkam railway station. The victim's body was lying on the platform for nearly 2 hours before police made arrangements to shift it to a mortuary.

Only on Wednesday, an advocate was hacked to death in broad-day light at Vyasarpadi in Chennai.

Meanwhile, Infosys issued a statement condoling the death of Swathi, “We are saddened by the unfortunate incident that has led to the demise of our employee in Chennai. We are working with the local authorities as they investigate the matter and will continue to provide our co-operation and support. Our deepest sympathies and prayers are with the family of the deceased. Infosys will provide all the necessary support to the family in their hour of grief,”a spokesperson of the company said.