A 24-year-old woman named Lavanya was brutally murdered at the KSRTC bus stand in Bantwal town, Mangaluru. The incident occurred in broad daylight, allegedly by a distant relative who had been stalking her after she rejected his advances. Lavanya, a resident of Kakyapadavu and an employee at a private nursing home in Kalladka, was attacked by the accused, identified as Chethan, who is currently on the run.
Eyewitnesses reported that Chethan, motivated by one-sided love, chased Lavanya after she got off a KSRTC bus at the Bantwal bus stand. He then attacked her with a machete, causing fatal injuries. Despite attempts to escape, Lavanya succumbed to her wounds before receiving medical help. The assailant fled the scene immediately after the assault, leaving the victim behind.
The tragic incident, captured partially on a bystander’s mobile phone, has triggered widespread outrage and raised concerns about women’s safety in public spaces. This event follows another violent attack in Manchi village, where a minor girl was stabbed while waiting at a bus stop. Law enforcement authorities, including senior officers and the Superintendent of Police, are actively involved in the investigation to track down the accused and gather evidence to establish the sequence of events leading to the murder.
