Even a day after Congress worker S. Ravikumar’s hand was chopped at Arkund in Gowribidanur of Chickballapur district on Thursday, the prime accused, Lokesh, is still at large.
While Lokesh was widely regarded as a Janata Dal (Secular) activist, the party had clarified on Friday that he is not its worker.
In the meantime, surgery at a hospital in Bengaluru was successful and the chopped left hand of Ravikumar attached, sources said.
In a joint press conference held on Friday, JD(S) district spokesperson Narayanaswamy and party’s youth wing leader Rajashekhar sought to distance the party from the accused. “The incident was not politically motivated”, both the functionaries said.
Though there was a clash between Congress and JD(S) workers while Ravikumar was reportedly distributing saris in the area on behalf of Chickballapur MLA K. Sudhakar to woo voters, the assault on him by Lokesh was triggered purely by personal enmity, they said.
Lokesh might have used the opportunity of brawl between Congress and JD(S) workers to settle scores with Ravikumar, they maintained. Hostility prevailed between Lokesh and Ravikumar over a girl, they said.
MLA’s stand
Chickballapur Congress MLA K. Sudhakar also maintained that the assault was not politically motivated, but was due to personal enmity.
He told The Hindu that he had paid ₹ 1 lakh for the surgery at Hosmat Hospital, Bengaluru. The chopped part of the hand was successfully attached. However, it would be clear whether it will function normally or not only after 48 hours of observation, Mr. Sudhakar said. “I will bear the further cost of treatment and other medical expenses”, he added.
