Anantapur police on Sunday shot and critically injured Hemanth, the 21-year-old accused in a chainsaw attack on a Class 10 student at a government school in Anantapur district. After an extensive search, officers traced him to the Atmakur forest area, where he allegedly tried to go deeper into the woods to avoid arrest. Police fired six rounds during the operation, and Hemanth was then taken in custody to Anantapur Government General Hospital for treatment.
The attack took place on Saturday morning, October 31, at around 10.30 a.m. during a mathematics class at Raptadu Zilla Parishad High School. Hemanth, also known as Dummu, was described as a daily-wage worker and a close relative of the victim, reportedly her maternal uncle. According to the report, he entered the classroom carrying a motorised or electric chainsaw, singled out 15-year-old Mudaga Gopika, and attacked her in front of her teacher and classmates.
Gopika, who is from Ayyavaripalli or Akkayavaripalem village, suffered severe injuries in the assault. The report says she had deep cuts to her face, head, neck, back and abdomen, fractures to the skull and ribs, vascular damage, and near-complete severing of her right hand. She collapsed in a pool of blood. Another Class 10 student, Lakshmi, intervened to protect her and sustained deep lacerations to her legs. The accused then left the chainsaw behind and fled. Teacher Rajeshwari later reportedly said she froze in shock as the violence unfolded.
Gopika was first taken to Anantapur Government General Hospital and later shifted by a green corridor to Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru for advanced care. Doctors there carried out orthopaedic and plastic surgeries. Her condition was later reported to have stabilised, and she remained under observation in the paediatric intensive care unit. Lakshmi was treated for her injuries in Anantapur.
Preliminary investigation suggested that Hemanth, an orphan from Naguluru village in Sri Sathya Sai district who had been staying with relatives, had allegedly been harassing Gopika in the name of “love”. Police believe he developed a grudge after she rejected his advances and threatened to inform her parents. Investigators also said he had conducted a recce of the school and recently purchased the chainsaw. Cases were registered under attempt-to-murder provisions and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed shock and anger, describing the assault as barbaric. He said he was personally monitoring the victim’s recovery, directed the best possible medical care, and ordered police to ensure the harshest punishment under law. Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav and other officials also kept close watch on the treatment. The incident triggered widespread outrage, with the victim’s family demanding stern action.
Police launched an intensive search immediately after the attack. On Sunday, acting on information, they found Hemanth in the Atmakur forest area. When he allegedly attempted to escape, with some reports saying he threw stones at the police, officers opened fire. Security was tightened at the hospital where he is being treated. Officials are continuing to investigate the full sequence of events, possible security lapses at the school and the exact motive behind the attack.
The assault has raised fresh concerns over safety inside schools and the need for stronger measures to prevent targeted violence against students.
