Anantapur School Horror: 21-Year-Old Storms Classroom With Power Chainsaw, Girl Critical, Another Injured; Accused Arrested
October 31, 2026: A horrifying attack inside a school classroom in Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur district has raised urgent questions about the safety of schoolgirls and the security of educational institutions.
A 21-year-old man allegedly entered a Class 10 classroom at Zilla Parishad High School in Raptadu on Saturday, October 31, carrying a mechanised power chainsaw and attacked two schoolgirls while a teacher was present and lessons were underway. The brutal assault triggered panic, with students and teachers reportedly fleeing the classroom.
The two injured girls were rushed to the Government General Hospital in Anantapur for emergency treatment. One sustained extremely serious injuries to her face, head, neck and abdomen, with reports indicating that her right hand was almost severed. Another student was injured while attempting to intervene and save her classmate.
Current reports from The Times of India and The Indian Express describe Gopika as critically injured, not confirmed dead.
The casualty situation requires further official confirmation. Some reports have claimed that one girl died, while NDTV’s detailed report and India Today’s initial coverage described her as critically injured and receiving treatment.
Accused arrested
The accused has been identified in media reports as 21-year-old Hemanth, also known as Dummu, reportedly from Nagalur in Sri Sathya Sai district. He was apprehended at Dharmavaram railway station, according to NDTV.
Preliminary reports suggest that he was a distant relative of one of the girls. There are also allegations of previous harassment, but investigators have yet to establish the motive conclusively.
How did an armed man enter a school?
Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of this incident is how the attacker managed to reach a classroom carrying a dangerous mechanised weapon.
According to The Indian Express, repair work was underway at the school and some teachers and security personnel reportedly mistook the accused for a worker, allowing him inside. Parents have raised serious questions about the school’s security arrangements and the absence of effective checks.
Chief Minister condemns attack
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed shock and anger over the incident. He said he was personally monitoring the injured girl’s treatment and directed doctors to provide the highest priority care. He also ordered stringent action against the accused.
Education Minister Nara Lokesh also condemned the attack, stressing that the safety and dignity of every girl and woman must be protected.
A school should never become a place of terror
The attack raises disturbing questions that extend beyond one criminal incident. How safe are children inside their classrooms? What safeguards protect girls from harassment and targeted violence? And how can a man carrying a power chainsaw enter a school during teaching hours without being stopped?
A classroom should be a sanctuary of learning, not a place where children fear for their lives. This case demands a thorough investigation, accountability for security lapses and stronger protection for students.
JANPATH NEWS NETWORK (JNN)
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