While the girl, who received 12 deep cuts on her head neck, wrist and other parts of the body, is battling for life, the assailant has been taken into custody.
Angry college students staged protest by resorting to road blockade at Tinimuhani on the Cuttack-Chandballi state highway. Vehicular traffic was disrupted for nearly an hour as the agitating students squatted on the busy road.
The 17-year-old girl, who was plus-three second year student of Kendrapara autonomous college, was on the way to college on a bicycle when the accused in an inebriated state intercepted her and stabbed her by a sharp-edged weapon.
The seriously injured girl has been shifted to SCB Medical College and hospital at Cuttack, police said.
The assailant Sanatan Bhoi (38), who was a tractor driver, was taken to custody. The accused has confessed to the crime.
The offender was infatuated towards the victim. He suddenly attacked the victim on the busy road near Bada Mangala chowk. Before the passers-by could realize and react, the accused committing the crime in cold-blooded manner fled from the spot, said an eye witness.
Though some people tried to rescue the girl, the accused man threatened them with with the sharp edged weapon.
Kendrapara Sub Divisional Police Officer, Nrusingha Charan Swain said "the road blockade agitation was withdrawn by students after the administration assured to bear the cost of treatment of the victim girl. The accused was alcohol addict. The motive of the crime is being investigated Swain said. The weapons used by the accused has been seized.