Man accused of murdering 21-year-old woman in Bantwal bus stand caught

Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police K. Arun and other senior police officers inspect the scene where a 21-year-old woman was hacked to death at the KSRTC bus stand in B.C. Road, Bantwal taluk, on Thursday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRAGEMENT The Bantwal Town police on July 17 got hold of Chethan, 22, who allegedly hacked 21-year-old Lavanya to death in the KSRTC bus stand at B. C. Road on July 16.The police said that the accused had consumed rat poison and was admitted to a hospital. Bantwal murder Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police K. Arun briefing on the arrest of suspect in the murder of 21-year-old Lavanya (on July 16) in the KSRTC bus stand at B. C. Road, on July 17, 2026. | Video Credit: The Hindu Chethan, police said, is from Odilnala in Belthangady taluk of Dakshina Kannada.According to witnesses, the victim had boarded a KSRTC bus bound for Kakkepadavu. She later got down from the bus, following which the accused also alighted and attacked her with a machete in the bus stand at B.C. Road. Though passers-by immediately rushed the victim to the Bantwal taluk government hospital, she was declared brought dead by doctors.Police identified the victim as Lavanya, a resident of Kakkepadavu village in Bantwal taluk. She was working in a private hospital at Kalladka. She was on her way back home at the time of the attack.Police sources said that the attack was the outcome of unrequited love.After attacking the victim, the assailant left the weapon behind and ran away from the bus stand. A video of the man attacking the woman with the machete and escaping from the area after she collapsed is widely being circulated on social media. Published - July 17, 2026 11:50 am IST