Andhra Pradesh: Boy tries to save girl from attacker, dies

Guntur: A student died on the spot while trying to save his girlfriend from an attacker in Kotappakonda on Wednesday. The girl too was injured and is battling for her life.

The couple had gone to the Trikoteswara Swamy temple to perform pujas and the incident took place when they were returning to Narasaraopeta. Ramavath Sheela, (name changed) 16, of Pitchiraju Chervu Tanda, came to temple to perform pujas. Her friend Banavat Anji Naik, 18, also came to the temple. The duo spent some time together in the temple and later started for Narasaraopeta.

They were climbing down the temple stairway when a man suddenly jumped in front of them and demanded the gold chain and the ring that Swathi was wearing. Though he was brandishing a knife, Swathi refused to give in. The attacker then tried to stab her, but Naik managed to move Swathi away. The man then attacked the young boy and stabbed him.

Swathi tried to shield Naik, but the attacker stabbed her too before fleeing. Pilgrims rushed to the spot and found Naik dead. They informed the police and shifted the Sheela to Narasaraopeta area government hospital. Later she was shifted to GGH, Guntur. The Narasaraopeta police has launched manhunt to nab the culprit.