Women’s group rallies in Visakhapatnam over electric‑saw attack on school girl

POW protestors gathered by the Gandhi statue in Visakhapatnam on Monday, demanding strict punishment after a Class X girl was attacked with an electric saw in a Zilla Parishad high school classroom at Raptadu, Anantapur district. The assault shocked the state and prompted immediate outcry. ## Protest The Progressive Organisation of Women (POW) staged the demonstration to condemn the brutal incident and to draw attention to the safety gaps in schools. Photographs showed the crowd holding placards and chanting for justice. ## Demands POW state president M. Lakshmi addressed the rally, urging faster medical aid for injured students and state support for their families. She called for a thorough probe, a fast‑track court to try the accused, and the formation of safety committees in every educational institution. Lakshmi also asked for a grievance‑reporting system that protects students from fear, tighter controls on liquor, ganja and narcotics, and full implementation of the Justice Verma Committee’s recommendations. ## Context The incident adds to rising concerns over school security across India, highlighting the need for stronger protective measures and swift legal response to violent crimes in educational settings.