Ramgarh, May 5: Maharshi Paramhans College of Education in Kothar witnessed thin attendance today, a day after BEd student Sonali Tuddu was butchered with a sickle right outside the campus, while the authorities are mulling surveillance cameras to beef up security.

Mother of a two-year-old girl, 30-year-old Sonali is remembered by her teachers and peers as a quiet student who never missed her classes. Many expressed shock over how the young woman from a Bokaro village was killed during recess yesterday when the campus was teeming with 200-odd students who study in two batches.

Today, only 11 students came to attend classes, which were suspended in the wake of poor attendance. The students observed two minutes of silence for Sonali and left.

Shobha Kujur, the teacher who took the last class before lunch last noon, said Sonali always occupied the last bench, but her roll number was one and all her 100 classmates knew her well. "I rarely found her talking to anyone. She always pored over books," the teacher recalled.

Lalita Hembrom, a classmate, was with Sonali when she stepped outside the college gate once in the morning to get some notes photocopied. "Sonali looked a little tensed. When I asked her, she brushed the matter aside, saying it was just the pressure of upcoming exams. Later in the day, she went out alone. I still can't believe she was murdered and so brutally," Lalita said.

Bharti Singh, another classmate, said it was just another day for them on campus yesterday. "Sonali came before classes began, ignored empty front benches and found her seat on the last bench. She was never talkative or overfriendly. She went out during lunch alone and then we heard the horrible news," said Bharti, one among the handful students who attended class today.

Mukesh Rawani, also a BEd student, said Sonali mostly rode pillion on husband Chittaranjan's bike from Bokaro to attend college here. "As soon as classes got over at 1pm, she quietly left campus. Her husband waited at the gate. She never had any time to chat with or befriend other students."

Librarian Ravi Bek too recalled Sonali's reticence. "A few days ago, she had borrowed some books. She returned them on time, but hardly interacted with us."

Ramgarh police are yet to make any headway in the case. They haven't been able to track down Sonali's stalker Sukesh Mandal (35) against whom Chittaranjan had lodged an FIR. D. Mahto, the in-charge of the college, said police had seized Sonali's bag and mobile phone, which she had left in the classroom.

College secretary Manoj Agarwal said the institution was six years old, but had never witnessed a law and order situation. "The main gate, which is used by workers of a hard coke factory, has sixguards, but the second gate through which the student went out has one. We have decided to hire one more guard there and are mulling CCTV cameras on campus," he added.