Girl critically injured after assailant attacks class with saw in Andhra school

A man entered the Class X-A section of Zilla Parishad High School in Raptadu around 10:30 a.m. on Saturday carrying a power saw and attacked a student, Mudaga Gopika, causing severe injuries and heavy blood loss. A second pupil, Sake Lakshmi, was hurt in the leg while trying to escape. The assault lasted only a few minutes before the attacker fled.

Teachers and students rushed the injured girls to the Government General Hospital in Anantapur. Police arrived shortly after being alerted, securing the scene with forensic teams and a dog squad, and have formed special teams to locate the suspect.

Investigators identified the attacker as M. Hemanth, a daily-wage labourer who reportedly bought a new saw for the attack. Evidence of a protective cover for the saw was found on the school premises. Hemanth is said to be a close relative of Gopika, linked through family marriages in the area.

"At around 10.30 am, a young man suddenly entered the classroom carrying a large object. He went straight to Gopika and attacked her with it. I was completely shocked and could not understand what was happening," said Rajarajeswari, a mathematics teacher present in the class.

Raptadu Circle Inspector C. Venkatesulu said an attempt-to-murder case and a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act have been filed based on the complaint of the injured student. The victim is being transferred to Bengaluru for advanced treatment under the direction of Health Minister Y. Satyakumar Yadav.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Education and IT Minister Nara Lokesh expressed concern over the incident and ordered swift police action. Health Minister Y. Satyakumar Yadav directed that the accused be arrested without delay and that the victim receive all necessary medical care.