Chainsaw attack accused Hemanth shot in police firing in Anantapur forest
Synopsis
A 21-year-old man who attacked a Class 10 girl with an electric chainsaw at her school in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, was shot and injured in a police encounter the very next day. The victim underwent a 12-hour surgery and remains in the ICU at Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru, with the next 48 hours described as critical — a case that has shocked the state and drawn a personal intervention from a senior minister.
Key Takeaways
Accused Hemanth, 21 , was shot and injured by police in the Atmakur forest area, Anantapur on Sunday, 2 November 2026 , a day after the attack.
He had attacked a Class 10 girl at Zilla Parishad High School, Rapthadu on Saturday, 1 November 2026 , at around 10 am with an electric chainsaw.
Police reportedly fired approximately six rounds after the accused tried to evade arrest; his condition was not immediately confirmed.
The victim underwent nearly 12 hours of surgery and is currently in the ICU at Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru ; doctors say the next 48 hours are critical.
Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh personally visited Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru on Sunday to review the girl's treatment.
The accused is reportedly a close relative of the victim and allegedly attacked her after she rejected his proposal.
The prime accused in Saturday's electric chainsaw assault on a Class 10 girl student at a school in Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh, was shot and injured by police during a firearms encounter in the Atmakur forest area on Sunday, 2 November 2026. The suspect, identified as Hemanth, 21, was subsequently admitted to a hospital in Anantapur town; his precise medical condition was not immediately confirmed by authorities.
How the Encounter Unfolded
According to police, a team had received credible information about Hemanth's presence in the Atmakur forest area and moved in to arrest him. When officers attempted to detain him, the accused reportedly tried to flee. Police personnel reportedly first fired rounds into the air to compel him to surrender. When he persisted in attempting to escape, the team opened direct fire, firing approximately six rounds in total before the accused was brought down. Tight security has since been deployed at the hospital where he is being treated.
The Original Attack on the Student
The brutal attack took place on Saturday, 1 November 2026, at around 10 am, when Hemanth entered the premises of Zilla Parishad High School in Rapthadu, Anantapur district, carrying an electric chainsaw and attacked the Class 10 student. According to police, the accused is a close relative of the victim and allegedly targeted her after she rejected his romantic proposal. The motive, as attributed by police, points to a case of violence following a refused advance.
Victim's Critical Condition and Treatment
The girl was critically injured in the attack and was first rushed to a government hospital, where doctors reportedly worked for nearly eight hours to stabilise her condition. Once she was deemed fit for transfer, she was moved to Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru, where surgeons performed an operation lasting close to 12 hours before shifting her to the ICU. Doctors have stated that the next 48 hours are crucial for the victim's survival.
Minister Lokesh Reviews Treatment in Bengaluru
Andhra Pradesh Education and IT Minister Nara Lokesh travelled to Bengaluru on Sunday to personally meet doctors at Manipal Hospital and review the girl's condition and ongoing treatment. According to an official release, Lokesh said that upon receiving news of the attack, he had immediately alerted police and district health authorities. Referring to the victim as 'our daughter', the minister appealed to people across Andhra Pradesh to pray for her recovery, calling the next 48 hours a critical period.
Security and Investigation
Police have placed the hospital treating Hemanth under tight security. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the accused remains at large or is fully in custody, with earlier reports indicating he was still being pursued even after the firing. The incident has drawn significant public and political attention across Andhra Pradesh, reigniting concerns about safety within school premises and the response to cases of rejection-fuelled violence against minors.
Point of View
And a pattern of extreme violence against girls who refuse romantic advances. The political response — a minister flying to Bengaluru to check on the victim — is visible, but the structural response to school security gaps and the enforcement around protection orders for at-risk minors remains unaddressed. The 48-hour window for the victim's survival carries the full weight of those failures.
NationPress
2 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Anantapur school chainsaw attack?
A 21-year-old man named Hemanth entered Zilla Parishad High School in Rapthadu, Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh, on 1 November 2026 at around 10 am and attacked a Class 10 girl student with an electric chainsaw. According to police, the accused is a close relative of the victim and targeted her after she rejected his romantic proposal.
What is the condition of the injured girl?
The victim is currently in the ICU at Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru after undergoing a surgery lasting nearly 12 hours. Doctors have said the next 48 hours are critical for her survival.
How was the accused Hemanth apprehended?
Police tracked Hemanth to the Atmakur forest area in Anantapur district on Sunday, 2 November 2026. When he attempted to flee, the team opened fire after initially firing rounds in the air, reportedly discharging around six rounds in total. He was injured and subsequently admitted to a hospital in Anantapur town.
What was Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh's response?
Education and IT Minister Nara Lokesh travelled to Bengaluru on Sunday to visit Manipal Hospital and speak directly with doctors treating the victim. He described the girl as 'our daughter' and urged people across Andhra Pradesh to pray for her recovery, confirming that the next 48 hours would be critical.
Why did the accused attack the girl?
According to police, Hemanth attacked the girl because she had rejected his romantic proposal. He is reported to be a close relative of the victim. The police have attributed this motive based on their investigation, though formal charges are yet to be detailed publicly.
