TIRUPATI: The 21-year-old chainsaw attacker, Hemanth, who stormed a Zilla Parishad school in Raptadu of Anantapur district and brutally attacked a Class X girl and her classmate on Saturday, was critically wounded in a police encounter near the Atmakur forest area on Sunday evening.He was rushed to the Anantapur govt general hospital around 8.30pm and was shifted to the emergency operation theatre for treatment.After the Raptadu classroom horror sent shockwaves across the country and pressure mounted on the AP govt and police for swift action, nearly 25 special police teams were formed to trace Hemanth, who fled after committing the crime. Although sources on Saturday said the accused was nabbed in Dharmavaram, police later clarified that the manhunt was still underway.Speaking to reporters at the hospital, Anantapur SP P Jagadeesh said: “Acting on credible information, when two special police teams zeroed in on Hemanth near the Atmakur forest area on Sunday evening, the accused allegedly resisted arrest, pelted stones at police personnel and tried to escape.”When police fired two warning shots in the air and asked him to surrender, Hemanth tried to attack the team with a knife, injuring circle inspector Venkateswarulu, Jagadeesh added. Left with no other option, police acted in self-defence and fired six rounds at Hemanth, immobilising him, he said.Following the firing, police personnel secured Hemanth and shifted him under heavy security to the GGH for urgent medical treatment. The SP said Hemanth’s condition was critical as he sustained multiple bullet wounds below his waist. Some part of his face was also disfigured as he reportedly got injured in the forest before his encounter with police, the SP added.Around 10am on Saturday, Hemanth, armed with a chainsaw, stormed the Zilla Parishad govt school at Raptadu and attacked a 15-year-old girl in her classroom. He also attacked another classmate, who tried to save the victim from his onslaught. After both girls collapsed into a pool of blood, Hemanth abandoned the chainsaw and fled the spot.