Woman Hacked to Death at KSRTC Bus Stand in Bantwal; Police Hunt Absconding Accused Chethan
A 24-year-old woman, Lavanya, was hacked to death at the KSRTC bus stand in Bantwal, Mangaluru district. Police have launched a manhunt for accused Chethan, who remains absconding.
Mangaluru: A 24-year-old woman, identified as Lavanya, was brutally hacked to death in broad daylight at the KSRTC bus stand in Bantwal town, Mangaluru district, on Thursday. Police alleged that the attack was carried out by her distant relative Chethan, who had allegedly been stalking her after she rejected his advances. The accused is absconding, a murder case has been registered, special teams have been formed to trace him, and the investigation is underway.
Table of Contents
Woman Killed at Bantwal KSRTC Bus Stand
According to police, the deceased, Lavanya, was a resident of Kakyapadavu and worked at a private nursing home in Kalladka.
Police identified the accused as Chethan, who is currently absconding.
According to preliminary investigations, Chethan had allegedly been pursuing Lavanya due to one-sided love. Investigators are also probing reports that the accused was associated with a Hindutva organisation.
Attack Took Place After Bus Journey
Police said Lavanya had boarded a KSRTC bus to return to Kakyapadavu when the accused allegedly sat beside her.
During the journey, she reportedly called a relative and informed them that a young man was sitting next to her. However, the call was disconnected shortly afterwards.
Eyewitnesses said that after getting down at the Bantwal KSRTC bus stand, the accused allegedly chased Lavanya, pulled out a machete concealed in his bag and attacked her repeatedly.
Despite attempting to escape, she was caught by the attacker, who allegedly inflicted multiple blows, leaving her with grievous injuries. She collapsed at the scene and died before medical assistance could be provided.
The accused fled immediately after the attack.
Follow for more details: munsifdaily.com
Mobile Video May Aid Investigation
In a significant development, a bystander recorded portions of the attack on a mobile phone.
The video has since circulated widely on social media and is expected to play an important role in the investigation.
Police Launch Manhunt
The incident has triggered outrage across the region and renewed concerns over women’s safety in public places.
Police said the murder comes just days after another violent attack in Manchi village in the same taluk, where a minor girl waiting at a bus stop was allegedly stabbed and seriously injured by a youth.
Senior officers from the Bantwal subdivision, including the Town Police Inspector, reached the spot soon after the incident.
Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police Arun K also visited the scene and reviewed the investigation.
Police have constituted special teams to trace and arrest the accused, who remains on the run.
A murder case has been registered, and investigators are examining all aspects of the incident, including the nature of the relationship between the victim and the accused.
Officials said efforts are underway to collect CCTV footage from the bus stand and nearby areas to establish the sequence of events leading to the murder.
The brutal murder of 24-year-old Lavanya at the KSRTC bus stand in Bantwal, Mangaluru district, has shocked the region. Police alleged that the attack was carried out by Chethan, who remains absconding after allegedly stalking the victim following the rejection of his advances. A murder case has been registered, special teams are searching for the accused, CCTV footage is being collected, and the investigation is ongoing.
