A day after Congress worker S. Ravikumar’s hand was chopped at Arkund in Gowribidanur, Chickballapur district, the prime accused Lokesh is at large.
While Lokesh was perceived to be a Janata Dal (Secular) activist, in a joint press conference on Friday, the party’s district spokesperson Narayanaswamy and youth wing leader Rajashekhar sought to distance the party from the accused. Though there was a clash between Congress and JD(S) workers while Ravikumar was reportedly distributing saris on behalf of Chickballapur MLA K. Sudhakar, they maintained that the assault by Lokesh was triggered by personal enmity.
Ravikumar was taken to Hosmat Hospital with a severed left fore-arm on Thursday night. According to Dr. Thomas Chandy, Chief of Orthopaeics, "As the patient was brought within 3 hours of the incident, we were able to save his forearm."
K. Sudhakar said whether his hand will function normally would be known only after 48 hours of observation.
