Two schoolgirls were injured after a man allegedly entered their classroom with a chainsaw and attacked them at a government school in Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur district on Saturday. The accused, reportedly a relative of one of the students, fled the spot and is yet to be arrested.
The incident took place at Raptadu Zilla Parishad High School. Police said both girls sustained injuries, while one of them was reported to be stable. The injured student was taken to hospital, where she is being treated in the presence of her parents.
Anantapur Rural sub-divisional police officer K Ashwin Manideep confirmed the chainsaw attack and said police teams had been sent to trace the accused.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu expressed shock and anger over the attack, particularly as it took place inside a school.
In a post on X, he said he was "deeply shaken and enraged by the barbaric attack on a Class 10 student inside her classroom at Raptadu ZP (Zilla Parishad) High School."
Naidu said those targeting girls inside educational institutions would face strict action and that the injured student’s treatment had been prioritised.
"Attackers who target our young girls inside schools have no place in our society. I am personally tracking her recovery and have directed the medical team to give her the highest priority care," he said.
The chief minister also directed the police to track down the accused and ensure strict legal action.
"I have ordered the police to hunt down the monster responsible and deliver the harshest legal punishment swiftly," the CM added.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack and gathering further details. The accused remains at large, with teams deployed to nab him.
The police have not shared further details about the motive behind the attack.