Machete wielding man attacks Mangaluru govt staff

In what appears to be a ‘lone wolf’ act of rage, a 35-year-old man attacked and injured three women employees of District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) here on Monday. The assailant, who claims to be a former student of DIET, has been arrested.

Police Commissioner N Shashi Kumar told reporters that the assailant went to DIET, off Jail Road and adjoining the Mangaluru district prison, around 1 p.m. He asked to meet a teacher, claiming he had to deliver a ‘gift’. When further questioned by the staff, he attacked them with a machete, injuring Reena Rai (45), Nirmala (43) and Gunavati (58). Following an alarm, policemen from the district prison, autorickshaw drivers and members of the public rushed to the spot and caught hold of the assailant. He was later taken into custody by the Barke police.

Victims out of danger

Of the injured, Reena, a first division clerk, suffered a cut over her left eye, Nirmala suffered a head injury and Gunavati was injured on her back. They were admitted to two private hospitals and are reportedly out of danger. The police are yet to determine the reason for the attack.

Zilla Panchayat CEO Kumara visited the victims along with the police chief. He said there were only clerical staff at DIET at the time of the incident as the teaching staff was on field duty following the resumption of offline attendance for classes 6 and 7 in Dakshina Kannada district.