Raipur was thrown into chaos on Monday as a brutal daylight stabbing near the Telibandha pond led to the death of a young woman. The incident, which occurred around 3:45 pm, saw Lokeshwar Tarak, a former employee of the ‘Momos Magic’ restaurant near Marine Drive, viciously attack the 24-year-old woman, slashing her neck with a sharp weapon. Despite immediate medical intervention, the victim succumbed to her injuries during treatment, casting a shadow of grief and fear over the city. The attack was not only brutal but also brazenly public, leaving bystanders horrified and raising serious concerns about public safety. ASP (City) Lakhan Patle told media persons that Lokeshwar had previously worked with the victim at the same restaurant, suggesting a pre-existing relationship that culminated in this tragic confrontation.

 

“The accused, Lokeshwar, and the victim were known to each other, and this appears to have been a personal matter,” ASP Patle stated. After carrying out the assault, Lokeshwar inflicted injuries on him with the same weapon and attempted to flee by jumping into the Telibandha pond. A swift response by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local police led to his immediate arrest. “Our officers, along with the SDRF team and local citizens, conducted a boat rescue operation to apprehend him,” Patle added. Lokeshwar was rescued from the pond and is currently under police supervision at the hospital, facing charges of murder. The incident, now classified as a murder case, has sparked outrage in Raipur, adding to the string of violent crimes in the city. ASP Patle confirmed that preliminary investigations point to a failed love affair as the primary motive behind this horrific act. “Prima facie, this appears to be a case rooted in a personal relationship gone awry,” he remarked. With the victim’s death, authorities have escalated the charges against Lokeshwar Tarak to include murder.

 

A comprehensive investigation is underway to uncover the full details of the events that led to this fatal attack. This violent episode is part of a disturbing pattern of knife attacks that have recently plagued Raipur. Only a day before, on Sunday, a Ganesh pandal in the BSUP Colony became the scene of another stabbing, triggered by a minor dispute over dancing involving members of the transgender community. This was preceded by a bloody altercation on Saturday at the ‘On the Rocks’ bar, where a fight during a dance session left one individual critically injured. Videos of these incidents have circulated widely on social media, causing public outrage and escalating concerns about the deteriorating law and order situation in the city. The succession of such violent incidents has intensified calls for immediate and stringent action to ensure public safety and restore peace in Raipur.