YSR Congress Party President and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Saturday condemned the brutal attack on a Class 10 student inside a classroom in Andhra Pradesh’s Raptadu, calling it a “total collapse of law and order” under the TDP-led state government.

A Class 10 girl student is undergoing emergency medical treatment after being brutally attacked with a chainsaw inside her school premises in Raptadu, leaving her with severe injuries to her face, head, and throat, officials said.

The girl sustained deep wounds to her neck and abdomen, while her right hand was reportedly almost severed in the assault.

Another girl student, who attempted to intervene and save her, was also seriously injured during the attack. Both victims are currently battling for their lives at a private hospital.

Taking to X, Reddy said: “The barbaric chainsaw attack on a Class 10 student inside the classroom at Rapthadu ZP High School exposes the total collapse of law and order under the TDP coalition’s ‘Jungle Raj’.”

“How could an assailant freely storm into a government school and brutally assault a young girl? This shows the government’s utter negligence in ensuring the safety of children, even inside educational institutions,” he said.

The former Chief Minister also said that it is “unfortunate” that another student was also injured while she was trying to intervene.

“When governance takes a backseat to political vendetta and ‘Red Book’ rule, criminals run rampant without fear of the law,” he said.

“Injured students must be provided with the best emergency medical treatment immediately, and their families must be taken into confidence. We demand the immediate arrest of the attacker and be brought to justice through a transparent probe. An urgent review of school safety protocols across Andhra Pradesh, and complete accountability from Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and TDP National Working President Nara Lokesh,” Reddy added.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister expressed shock over the incident and spoke to officials to enquire about her condition and the treatment being provided. Personally monitoring her recovery, CM Naidu directed the medical team to accord her the highest priority and provide the best possible care.

“I have ordered the police to hunt down the monster responsible and deliver the harshest legal punishment swiftly,” he added.

Later, CM Naidu spoke to the student’s mother over the phone and offered her words of comfort and reassurance. He urged her to remain courageous and assured her that the accused would be punished severely, according to the Chief Minister’s Office.

The Chief Minister assured the family that the government would extend complete support and that every possible effort would be made to save the student’s life.

He also enquired about the health condition of another student who was also injured in the attack.

Nara Lokesh also condemned the incident.

Meanwhile, police have launched an extensive investigation into the incident and are yet to determine whether the accused man was known to the girl before the attack. Investigators are examining multiple aspects of the case as efforts continue to identify and apprehend the attacker.

A Delhi court on Saturday issued a fresh bailable warrant against YouTuber Dhruv Rathee in an eight-year-old criminal defamation case filed by Vikas Pandey.

The Saket court passed the order, stating that the new warrant will be issued at his Gurugram address.

The court had issued a bailable warrant against the YouTuber on October 17, after being informed that previous summons issued to Rathee could not be served as the premises of his residence were found locked, following an order passed earlier this month.

However, the October 17 warrant also could not be served on Rathee as the court observed that it had been issued to an incorrect address in Austria.

The Saket court was, on Saturday, informed that Rathee had already left India.

The next hearing in the case has been scheduled for November 23.

The case pertains to a video titled ‘BJP IT Cell Part 2’, which allegedly defamed Pandey.

The video was also retweeted by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal in 2018, who later acknowledged before the Supreme Court that he had made a mistake by retweeting it.

Pandey, the founder of the social media page ‘I Support Narendra Modi’, had claimed that the retweet had tarnished his reputation.

The proceedings against Rathee had remained pending amid repeated difficulties in serving summons on him since 2019, with the complainant claiming that his continued absence from India had delayed the case.

Rathee ordinarily resides in Austria.

The matter had also reached the Supreme Court in connection with Kejriwal’s challenge to the criminal defamation proceedings arising from the retweet.

In February 2024, Kejriwal told the apex court that he had made a mistake by sharing the video. A Bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna, who later became Chief Justice of India (CJI) and has since retired, and Dipankar Datta had stayed the trial court proceedings against Kejriwal while hearing his plea challenging the Delhi High Court’s refusal to quash the summons issued against him.

The Delhi High Court had earlier upheld the summoning order, observing that retweeting allegedly defamatory content could attract prosecution under Section 499 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday expressed deep anguish over the brutal attack on a Class 10 girl student inside her classroom at Zilla Parishad High School in Raptadu of Anantapur district.

A Class 10 girl student is undergoing emergency medical treatment after being brutally attacked with a chainsaw inside her school premises in Raptadu, leaving her with severe injuries to her face, head, and throat, officials said.

The girl sustained deep wounds to her neck and abdomen, while her right hand was reportedly almost severed in the assault.

Another girl student, who attempted to intervene and save her, was also seriously injured during the attack. Both victims are currently battling for their lives at a private hospital.

The Chief Minister expressed shock over the incident and spoke to officials to enquire about her condition and the treatment being provided.

Personally monitoring her recovery, CM Naidu directed the medical team to accord her the highest priority and provide the best possible care.

Condemning the attack in the strongest terms, he said, “I am deeply shaken and enraged by the barbaric attack on a Class 10 student inside her classroom at Raptadu ZP High School. Attackers who target our young girls inside schools have no place in our society.”

“I have ordered the police to hunt down the monster responsible and deliver the harshest legal punishment swiftly,” he added.

Later, CM Naidu spoke to the student’s mother over the phone and offered her words of comfort and reassurance. He urged her to remain courageous and assured her that the accused would be punished severely, according to the Chief Minister’s Office.

The Chief Minister assured the family that the government would extend complete support and that every possible effort would be made to save the student’s life.

He also spoke to local MLA Paritala Sunitha regarding the medical treatment and assistance being provided to the injured student.

The Chief Minister also enquired about the health condition of another student who was also injured in the attack.

TDP National Working President Nara Lokesh also condemned the incident and said, “I am deeply anguished and shocked by the brutal attack on a Class 10 student inside her school in Rapthadu, Anantapur district.”

“Such an inhuman act against a young girl in a place meant for learning and safety is utterly reprehensible,” he said.

“The safety and dignity of every girl and woman are paramount. Such acts of brutality will not be tolerated,” Lokesh added.

Meanwhile, police have launched an extensive investigation into the incident and are yet to determine whether the accused man was known to the girl before the attack. Investigators are examining multiple aspects of the case as efforts continue to identify and apprehend the attacker.