Bengaluru, Sep 17: A family dispute is suspected to have been the reason behind the deadly attack in Bengaluru on a 26-year-old nurse from West Bengal, allegedly by her estranged husband from Tamil Nadu, police said on Thursday.

The victim, Madhumita, is in critical condition following the attack near Narayana Hospital in J.P. Nagar Third Phase.

DCP South Dr. Vamshi Krishna, who visited the spot, said the accused, identified as Venkateshan, allegedly attacked Madhumita with a machete and a long knife after throwing a liquid suspected to be acid, on her.

The incident took place around 9.15 a.m. near Narayana Hospital, where Madhumita works as a nurse. According to the DCP, the accused wore a helmet during the assault and used two deadly weapons in the attack.

“The accused has used a liquid similar to acid and assaulted the woman with a machete and a long knife. The couple are husband and wife, and the incident is suspected to have taken place against the backdrop of a family dispute,” Dr. Vamshi Krishna said.

Madhumita and Venkateshan had married in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, in 2024. However, the couple had reportedly not been living together for around one-and-a-half years. Madhumita had been staying in a PG accommodation in Bengaluru, while Venkateshan had earlier worked in Bengaluru before moving to Chennai.

Police said Venkateshan had travelled from Madurai to Bengaluru on Wednesday night and allegedly arrived with the liquid and weapons before carrying out the attack. He was arrested and is being questioned by the police.

The Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO) team has collected and is examining the liquid allegedly used in the attack to determine whether it was acid.

According to police sources, the couple had met through a dating application. Venkateshan allegedly suspected Madhumita and frequently fought with her over her social media posts and reels.

During questioning, Venkateshan allegedly told police that his wife was not listening to him and that he suspected she was with another man. He allegedly attacked her more than 10 times with the deadly weapons.

It can be recalled that Venkateshan allegedly chased Madhumita when she came out of the hospital. She ran towards the cellar parking area of the hospital, where the accused allegedly caught hold of her and threw the acid-like liquid on her. He then allegedly grabbed her by the hair and attacked her repeatedly with a machete and the knife.

The assault reportedly took place in full public view. Several people raised an alarm and attempted to intervene, but the accused allegedly waved the machete at those who tried to approach him. Some members of the public reportedly attempted to rescue Madhumita by pelting stones at the accused, but were unable to overpower him.

Police have obtained video recordings of the assault that were made by members of the public. The footage is expected to form part of the investigation into the incident.

The accused was eventually overpowered and taken into custody after a traffic police officer arrived at the spot.

Madhumita, who hails from Kolkata in West Bengal, sustained serious injuries in the attack and was shifted to a private hospital for treatment.

Kolkata, Sep 17: The Kolkata Police arrested four persons and seized a large quantity of illegally stored e-cigarettes during a raid on a shop in the city, the police said on Thursday.

A joint team of the Anti-Rowdy Section (ARS) and Detective Department raided ‘The Smokers Den’ at 191 Park Street, under Beniapukur police station, on Wednesday night. The raid followed a tip-off that e-cigarettes were being illegally stored and sold at the shop.

A senior Kolkata Police officer said, “The questioning of the arrested persons is going on in this matter. The four arrested persons will be produced before the ACJM court in Sealdah today (Thursday). The investigators may apply for their custody in the court for questioning. The matter is being investigated from all angles.”

According to the police, the shop was being used to illegally store and sell e-cigarettes. During the search, investigators recovered a large quantity of e-cigarettes and arrested four persons associated with the establishment.

The accused have been identified as 22-year-old Mohammed Rifaiz, 28-year-old Abdul Hakim K, 21-year-old Ahmed Masud and 40-year-old Mohammed Ejaz. All four are residents of Kolkata.

The police said the first three accused were found to be living at an address on Linton Street in the Beniapukur police station area. The fourth accused is a resident of Ripon Street in the city.

Investigators are examining whether the shop had been stocking and selling e-cigarettes for a prolonged period. The arrested persons are being questioned to determine the source of the seized e-cigarettes, identify their suppliers, and ascertain whether other people are involved in the alleged illegal trade.

A case has been registered by the Detective Department at Beniapukur police station in connection with the incident. Police have invoked multiple sections of law in the case.

Sources said further raids could be conducted at other shops in the city as part of the investigation. The move is aimed at determining whether other shops are also illegally storing or selling e-cigarettes in the city.

Further investigation into the case is underway, said the police.

New Delhi, Sep 17: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President Nitin Nabin on Thursday donated blood at a programme organised at the party’s central office in the capital, under the party’s ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ and extended birthday greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The month-long ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’, which began on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, will continue until October 7 and is being organised to mark PM Modi’s 25 years of public service.

Nitin Nabin said that PM Modi’s tenure as the head of the state has brought about a significant “transformation in people’s lives and thinking” and also highlighted the changes witnessed across the country during his years in public life.

“Today, people across the country will light ‘Aashirwad Ka Diya’ and pray for the long and successful life of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Nabin said.

“Today is the day to offer prayers and pay obeisance to Lord Vishwakarma. Along with the divine architect, today also marks the birth anniversary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the architect of modern India,” the BJP chief said.

“I first extended greetings to the Pradhan Sevak of the country on his birthday and wish him a long and successful life,” Nabin said.

Speaking about the blood donation initiative being undertaken as part of the month-long campaign, Nabin said BJP workers across the country were participating in the programme with the message of ‘Raktadaan Mahadaan’.

The BJP National President said, “Today, thousands of BJP karyakartas across the country are initiating this entire campaign through blood donation in the spirit of ‘Raktadaan Mahadaan’ (Blood Donation, Great Donation). It is a matter of great privilege for everyone to be participating in this blood donation programme today.”

Nabin said that the campaign would seek to highlight the changes that people across the country have experienced during Prime Minister Modi’s years in public life.

Across the country, he said, there are “thousands and lakhs of people whose lives have witnessed a transformation through the dedication and perseverance” of Prime Minister Modi during his 12 years as Prime Minister and 25 years as Head of State.

“Not only have their lives changed, but the thinking of millions and crores of Indians has also undergone a transformation. Today, every Indian is coming forward and working with the spirit of ‘Nation First’,” Nabin said.

He said that the ‘Aashirwad Ka Diya’ initiative would also be observed across the country on the Prime Minister’s birthday, with people reflecting on the changes they have witnessed in society and in their own lives.

“Today, on the birth anniversary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, all Indians will come together to light the ‘Aashirwad Ka Diya’, reflecting the changes that have taken place in society, the transformation visible in people’s minds, and the changes witnessed in their lives, and will pray for the success and long life of the Prime Minister,” he said.

Nabin also spoke about India’s development trajectory and its growing position on the global stage, attributing the progress to the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.

“Today, India is moving ahead prominently on the path of development and, advancing towards becoming a Viksit Bharat, is establishing a distinct position on the global stage. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is taking the country towards the dream of a Viksit Bharat by 2047, we are all associated with this campaign and pray for his long and successful life,” Nabin added.