Crime

Horrific Daytime Murder: Young Woman Brutally Hacked to Death at Bantwal KSRTC Bus Stand

By Editor

Posted on July 16, 2026

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Horrific Daytime Murder: Young Woman Brutally Hacked to Death at Bantwal KSRTC Bus Stand

Bantwal : A chilling act of violence shook Bantwal on Thursday, July 16, when a young woman was brutally murdered in broad daylight at the busy KSRTC bus stand. The deceased has been identified as Lavanya (21), a resident of Uli village in Bantwal, who was employed at a private nursing home in Kalladka. The accused, identified as Chetan Gowda(22), a resident of Odilnala in Belthangady, allegedly cornered and attacked her with a lethal weapon in full public view.

According to preliminary details, the incident unfolded shortly after Lavanya boarded a KSRTC bus to travel toward Kakyapadavu. Sensing danger, she made a phone call to a relative from inside the bus, anxiously mentioning that a young man had sat next to her. The call got disconnected abruptly. As soon as she got off the bus to escape, the suspect chased her down, pulled out a machete from his bag, and launched a savage attack.

Eyewitnesses reported that despite Lavanya’s desperate attempts to defend herself, the assailant attacked her mercilessly, inflicting fatal injuries. She collapsed in a pool of blood and died on the spot, after which the attacker fled the scene. A bystander managed to capture the horrifying assault on a mobile phone camera. This shocking video has since gone viral on social media and is expected to serve as crucial evidence for the law enforcement agencies. The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, sparking severe concerns among Bantwal residents regarding public safety.

Upon receiving information about the tragedy, senior police officers from the Bantwal subdivision, along with the town police inspector and personnel, rushed to the spot to secure the area. Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police (SP) Arun K also visited the crime scene to review the situation. The SP stated that while the exact motive behind the murder is yet to be established, it will be uncovered during the investigation. Special police teams have been formed to track down and arrest the absconding suspect, and a case has been officially registered.