A 17-year-old girl was shot dead and her friend injured by a college office assistant in South East Bengaluru on Tuesday when she was on her way to college.

Gauthami, a student of Pragathi School and PU College was declared dead after being taken to hospital, while her friend Shirish, 18, is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Whitfield.

Mahesh, a non-teaching staff of the school and the prime suspect is absconding.

The incident took place last night and investigations are on, police said, adding the boy is suspected to be a jilted lover.

Reportedly, the incident took place inside college premises. The deceased is a second-year pre-university student and was residing at the hostel, police officials said.

Investigations are on, police said, adding the boy is suspected to be a jilted lover. Karnataka Home Minister KJ George, Bangalore Police Commissioner MN Reddi and other senior officials reached the spot to get first-hand information about the tragic incident.

The police have registered a case but no arrests have been made so far. Police officials will interrogate students, college authorities and teachers on the incident.

The culprit is on the run.

The twitter trolled with the flurry of tweets agitating the heinous act. Police are desperately searching for the suspect, keeping the media and the social activists’ outcry.

- Manohar