Andhra youth, who attacked schoolgirl with chainsaw, shot at while trying to escape police custody

The 21-year-old man accused of attacking a 15-year-old Class 10 student with a chainsaw at Zilla Parishad High School in Rapthadu, Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur district, was shot at by police on Sunday night while allegedly attempting to escape custody, officials said.

The accused, identified as Hemanth alias Dummu, was arrested by a special police team in the Atmakur forest area of the district on Sunday evening. (HT/PTI)The accused, identified as Hemanth alias Dummu, was arrested by a special police team in the Atmakur forest area of the district on Sunday evening, an official at the Anantapur police headquarters told HT.

He was being taken to Rapthadu for a reconstruction of the crime scene when he allegedly tried to flee and hurled stones at the police personnel escorting him. “When the police were bringing him to Raptadu to reconstruct the scene of the offence he had committed at the school, he tried to escape and started hurling stones at the police personnel.

Several police personnel sustained injuries in the attack, when they tried to overpower him,” the official said. ALSO READ | Andhra chainsaw attacker was teen victim’s uncle, harassed her in name of ‘love’: Police The police then opened fire in self-defence to prevent his escape and bring him under control.

“The police fired six rounds at him, leaving him seriously injured,” the official said, adding that he was taken to a hospital for treatment. His condition was reported to be serious. Videos showing Hemanth being carried to the hospital in a semi-conscious state have since circulated on social media.

Andhra Pradesh education and IT minister Nara Lokesh said the condition of the injured girl, who is undergoing treatment at Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru, remained critical. Lokesh visited the hospital, met the girl's family and spoke to doctors to review her condition and the treatment being provided.

“The next 48 hours will be critical,” he told reporters, appealing to people across the state to pray for her recovery. ALSO READ | Andhra minister Nara Lokesh shares update on chainsaw attack victim, says girl stable after bleeding controlled The attack took place around 10.30am on Saturday when Hemanth allegedly entered the school premises carrying a chainsaw and attacked the student.

Another girl, who tried to intervene, was also injured. The main victim was initially taken to Anantapur Government General Hospital, where doctors worked for nearly eight hours to stabilise her condition. A doctor at the hospital told reporters that the girl's right hand had suffered a deep cut near the shoulder, exposing the joint, while her face had sustained severe injuries.

She required multiple surgeries, the doctor said. She was subsequently shifted to Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru, where doctors performed a surgery lasting nearly 12 hours before moving her to the intensive care unit (ICU), Lokesh said.

ALSO READ | Ram Gopal Varma defends violence in films amid scrutiny after Andhra Pradesh chainsaw attack; internet says cinema has responsibility Assuring the family of full government support, Lokesh described the incident as extremely unfortunate and said it should not be politicised.

He said providing the girl with medical care, ensuring her continued treatment and supporting her rehabilitation would be both the government's collective responsibility and his personal responsibility. He also acknowledged the need to strengthen existing safety measures and procedures in the wake of the attack.

Lokesh also issued a warning against harassment and indecent behaviour towards women, saying those found making inappropriate remarks or behaving indecently towards women in Andhra Pradesh would face strict consequences.