KUNNATHOOR: A private bus employee stabbed a 17-year-old girl on Sunday night. The injured girl was admitted to the Thiruvananthapuram medical college hospital and has managed to survive critical state. Ananthu, the accused, is a conductor in a bus that runs in Kottarakkara-Chavara route.

Ananthu entered the house of the girl by removing the roof tiles at about 1.30 in the morning and stabbed her. The family members came to her rescue only after hearing her cries. Ananthu had escaped by then. She was first taken to a private hospital in Sasthamkotta and then to Thiruvananthapuram MCH.

Wide search has been launched for Ananthu, who has disappeared after the crime.

The police hinted that Ananthu and the girl were in love. A crack in the relationship had led to the crime, the police said. Kollam Rural SP Hari Sankar inspected the spot.