A 21-year-old man accused of attacking two Class 10 girls with a chainsaw at a government school in Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur district is still on the run, with police forming 12 to 15 teams to trace him.
The incident took place on Saturday morning at the Zilla Parishad High School in Raptadu village. According to preliminary information, the accused, identified as Hemanth alias Dummu from Nagalur in Dharmavaram mandal of Sri Sathya Sai district, entered a classroom at around 10.30 am while lessons were underway. Both girls were injured, and one is in critical condition. They were taken to the Government General Hospital in Anantapur. One is undergoing critical surgery, and arrangements are being made to airlift her to a hospital in Bengaluru.
Police sources said the accused is the uncle of the girl he allegedly targeted. He had been stalking her and had proposed to her in the past. The rejection of his advances is believed to be the motive behind the attack.
The class teacher, Rajeshwari, who was present, said staff initially did not realise what the man was carrying because construction work was going on at the school. He switched on the chainsaw outside before entering the classroom and moving towards the girls. Panic ensued as children ran in different directions. The teacher said the attack happened before anyone could fully understand or intervene.
Education Minister Nara Lokesh said 20 mental health counsellors are visiting the homes of all 32 students of Class X-A as well as girl students of Classes 8, 9 and 10 to provide emotional support and help them cope with the trauma.