Andhra Pradesh HC seeks status report on police firing at Raptadu chainsaw attack accused

The Andhra Pradesh High Court in Amaravati. The court has directed the police to file a status report on their firing at the accused in the Raptadu chainsaw attack. File

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has directed the police to file a status report on their firing at M. Hemanth, who is accused of attacking a Class X girl with a chainsaw in her classroom in Raptadu, Anantapur district. The police shot him in both legs in the Atmakur forest on November 1, a day after the attack.

The court was hearing a PIL filed by advocate Gunda Gopi Krishna, who sought directions to ensure the safety and proper medical treatment of the injured accused, preservation of the relevant evidence, an independent investigation into the circumstances that led to the firing of six bullets at him and the manner of handling of the injured person before his admission to a hospital.

Appearing for the petitioner, advocate Solomon Raju apprised the court that following the attack on the girl, a criminal case was registered and, taking the offence seriously, the Superintendent of Police of Anantapur district deployed approximately 25 police teams to trace and apprehend the accused.

Subsequently, on receiving information that the accused Hemanth alias Dummu was hiding in the Atmakur forest, the police reached the spot and opened fire on him when he allegedly attacked one of the Circle Inspectors with a blunt object, injuring the officer.

The circumstances surrounding the firing, the necessity and proportionality of the use of firearms, and the precise manner in which the injuries were caused raise serious questions requiring an impartial investigation, Mr. Raju argued. He said the reasons for the firing submitted by the CI concerned and the other police personnel were not cogent.

The girl was attacked in her classroom during a mathematics lesson on October 31. Another student who tried to shield her was also injured. The girl is being treated at Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru; Minister Nara Lokesh said on November 2 that she was conscious and her condition was improving.

The police had said that special teams traced Hemanth to the Atmakur forest on the night of November 1. When asked to surrender, he allegedly threw stones at them and tried to attack an officer with a knife. The police said they fired two rounds in the air and then six rounds, hitting him in both legs. He was admitted to the Government General Hospital in Anantapur in a critical condition.