The girls’ hostel at Bahadurpur where the incident occurred on Thursday. Picture by Sachin

A jilted lover attacked and grievously injured his beloved with a knife in Patna on Wednesday, while her cousin, a Bihar Military Police (BMP) jawan, could only stare in horror.

The attacker, identified as 25-year-old Nirbhay Kumar Singh, hails from Vishnupur in Bhojpur, around 60km west of Patna, and is an employee of a private company in Pune. His beloved and victim, Poornima Singh, was his neighbour in Vishnupur. At present, she is a student of a Patna college and lives at a private hostel in Bahadurpur.

“Nirbhay told the police that both of them were in a romantic relationship. But Poornima told him recently that she wants to terminate their affair. This prompted the attack,” an officer at Bahadurpur police station told The Telegraph.

The incident occurred around 2pm. The girl was rushed to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH). Sources said her condition is stable at present.

At the time of the attack, she was accompanied by her cousin. But despite possessing his service revolver, he was unable to protect Poornima.

The police officer said: “According to Nirbhay’s statement, the girl had wooed him and promised to marry him. So, he got a job in Pune for a salary of Rs 16,000 per month. He claims that he used to give half his salary to Poornima and had also given her his ATM card. But their relationship soured. Nirbhay returned to Patna 15 days ago to meet her. Three days back, he spotted her with another man. Nirbhay called up Poornima and she told him that the relationship was over. He requested her to meet him one last time and she agreed.

“Poornima was determined to end things once and for all, and called her cousin — a BMP jawan posted in Patna — to help her. Nirbhay came down to her hostel today (Thursday) to meet them. The conversation got heated. Poornima’s cousin took out his service revolver and pointed it at Nirbhay, asking him to leave immediately. But Nirbhay did not leave. Instead, he took out the knife he had hidden in his clothes and attacked Poornima. Her cousin was so shocked that he could not react. Nirbhay continued to attack Poornima and she collapsed. The BMP jawan then mustered courage and raised an alarm. Passers-by apprehended Nirbhay and handed him over to the police. The girl was rushed to the hospital. She has received injuries on her head and chest,” the officer said, adding that the victim would have been killed had there been any delay in taking her to the hospital.

“The motive of the attack was murder. But Poornima was fortunate. The police are questioning Nirbhay now. His family has been informed,” the officer added.

He said the girl and her cousin would also be questioned.