Lokayukta attack: Rajnath speaks to Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah over Justice Vishwanath Shetty stabbing incident

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday spoke to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and expressed concern over the attack on the state Lokayukta.

Officials said the chief minister apprised Singh about the incident and the condition of the Lokayukta, P Vishwanatha Shetty.

They added that the home minister wished Justice Shetty a speedy

Shetty was stabbed multiple times on Wednesday and left bleeding profusely by a man, who had gone to his office with a complaint, only to be told that the case was shut.

Shetty, in his early 70s, was rushed to a nearby hospital and is stated to be out of danger.

The Lokayukta collapsed after the assailant, Tejaraj Sharma, attacked him at his chamber in a multi-storeyed building near the Vidhana Soudha (state secretariat), according to officials and eyewitnesses.

Siddaramaiah, who rushed to the hospital and enquired about Shetty's condition, told reporters that the attacker was placed under arrest.

Eyewitness Jay Anna was quoted by ANI as saying,"One person attempted to murder the judge.He hit him 3 times with his knife.The judge fell on the floor. So you can see what kind of security Siddaramaiah govt has provided us. Situation is very bad."

According to reports, the metal detector was not functioning at the entry point.

Opposition BJP has branded it another example of poor law and order in the state.

State Home Minister HM Ramalinga Reddy said about the attacker, "He was a contractor from Tumakuru. He complained to the Lokayukta about some tenders. He assaulted the judge and he was alone. The judge is out of danger now."

Lokayukta is an independent obbudsman on a state level, which probes corruption allegations against politicians and government officials. So naturally, the job is of high risk. Hence, the Karnataka government is red-faced regarding the big security lapse which lead to such an incident, where a person managed to entire the office with a knife and attack the Lokayukta.