Anusha, the daughter of a bus conductor, is suspected to have been stabbed by Venkatesh alias Narayan after she spurned his advances, police said.
The victim, a student of Sri Mahadeshwara Government college, had been asked by Narayan to meet her at the college campus, they added.
Narayan then took her near a temple before allegedly slitting her throat and stabbing her in the stomach, police said.
Even as the victim was rushed to a nearby hospital, students of the college went on strike demanding immediate arrest of the culprit, who is absconding, police said.