Tenth-Class Student Seriously Injured in Classroom Chainsaw Attack in Anantapur

A tenth-class girl student is battling for life after being attacked with an electric chainsaw inside her classroom at the Zilla Parishad High School in Raptadu on Saturday. The victim, Mudaga Gopika, sustained severe injuries while another student, Sake Lakshmi, suffered minor leg injuries during the assault.

What Happened

The attack took place around 10.30 a.m. while a mathematics lesson was underway with 31 students present in the classroom. The accused, identified as Hemanth, a close relative of the victim and a daily wager at the Anantapur tomato market, barged into the room and attacked Gopika indiscriminately before leaving the chainsaw behind and fleeing the school premises within minutes. Class teacher Rajarajeswari stated that the entire incident happened in two to three minutes while she was clearing student doubts.

Investigation and Arrest

Police and special teams formed to trace the perpetrator examined CCTV footage and arrested Hemanth at the Dharmavaram railway station hours after the incident, where he had reportedly planned to board a train. Investigators suspect the accused purchased the saw recently, as its cover was found on school grounds, and believe he conducted a reccee of the classroom beforehand. The Raptadu police registered cases against him under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act and for attempted murder, though the exact motive remains under investigation.

Medical Response

Both injured students were initially rushed to the Government General Hospital in Anantapur, where Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav visited to check on their condition and counsel the victim's parents. Late in the evening, Gopika was shifted to a private hospital in Bengaluru for advanced treatment, accompanied by a medical team including a surgeon and an anaesthetist in an advanced ambulance.

Reactions

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed shock over the incident, directed police to conduct a thorough investigation, and spoke over the phone with the victim's mother to assure her of full government support. Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh also voiced their shock regarding the attack.

Context

School security and student safety during classroom hours have drawn urgent public attention following this violent intrusion. High-profile government responses typically follow such major crimes against minors, prompting immediate reviews of institutional safety protocols across state educational facilities.