A brutal attack involving a chainsaw at a government school in Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur district has left two students in critical condition and ignited widespread public outrage. The incident occurred on Friday morning at the Zilla Parishad school in Raptadu, as students were attending a Class 10 Mathematics lesson. Both victims, a 15-year-old girl and her friend who attempted to intervene, sustained severe injuries and are currently undergoing treatment at the Anantapur Government Hospital.
According to police reports, the primary victim suffered deep lacerations to her neck and abdomen, with her right hand nearly severed during the assault. The second student was injured while trying to protect her classmate. Medical professionals are overseeing their care, and officials indicated that the victims may be transferred to a super-speciality hospital in Bengaluru for more advanced medical intervention.
Anantapuram Circle Inspector C. Srikanth stated that the school’s main gate was closed at the time of the incident, with most students inside their classrooms. Investigators believe the suspect seized a brief window of opportunity around 10:30 am when the school watchman temporarily left his post to fetch water for plants on the premises. Eyewitness accounts suggest the assailant may have been loitering outside the school grounds for several hours prior to the attack.
Police have successfully apprehended the suspect, identified as a 21-year-old wholesale tomato vendor who is said to be a relative of the main victim. He was taken into custody at the Dharmavaram Railway Station. Law enforcement officials are currently reviewing CCTV footage from the school and gathering testimonies to determine how the individual managed to infiltrate the campus and to ascertain the nature of his relationship with the victim, as well as the underlying motive for the violence.
The victim's family has expressed deep shock and confusion, stating they cannot understand why she was targeted. Relatives described the 15-year-old as a brilliant, shy student who was largely focused on her studies. The family noted that she typically commuted to and from school via autorickshaw and rarely interacted with others outside of her close circle of friends, which included the student who was also injured in the attack.
The incident has drawn strong condemnation from state leadership. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed his distress and anger, declaring that such acts of violence against students have no place in society. He confirmed that he is personally monitoring the medical care of the victims and has directed police to ensure a swift and stringent legal response to bring the perpetrator to justice. The Chief Minister also reached out to the victim's mother to offer reassurance during this traumatic time.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, the school administration has announced that the facility will remain closed on Monday. Local authorities have promised to implement enhanced security measures before the school reopens to address the safety concerns of parents and staff. Police teams continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the case as the community struggles to process the violence that occurred within the classroom.
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