Man accused of murdering 21-year-old woman at Bantwal bus stand nabbed

Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police K. Arun and other senior police officers inspect the spot where a 21-year-old woman was hacked to death at the KSRTC bus stand on BC Road, Bantwal taluk on Thursday. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARAGEMENT

On July 17, the Bantwal city police arrested Chethan (22), who allegedly hacked 21-year-old Lavanya to death at the KSRTC bus stand on BC Road on July 16.

Police said the accused had ingested rat poison and was taken to hospital.

Bantwal murder

Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police K. Arun briefing on the arrest of a suspect in the murder of 21-year-old Lavanya (July 16) at the KSRTC bus stand on BC Road, July 17, 2026. | Video Credit: The Hindu

Chethan, police said, hails from Odilnala in Belthangady taluk of Dakshina Kannada.

According to witnesses, the victim boarded a Kakkepadavu-bound KSRTC bus. She later got off the bus, after which the accused also got off and attacked her with a machete at the BC Road bus stop. Although passers-by immediately rushed the victim to the Bantwal taluk government hospital, the doctors declared her brought dead.

Police identified the victim as Lavanya, a resident of Kakkepadavu village in Bantwal taluk. She worked in a private hospital in Kalladka. She was on her way home at the time of the attack.

Police sources said the attack was the result of unrequited love.

After attacking the victim, the attacker left the weapon and ran away from the bus stop. A video of a man attacking a woman with a machete and fleeing the area after she collapsed has gone viral on social media.

Published – 17 Jul 2026 11:50 IST