A couple is sitting on a two-wheeler that is parked on a busy main road in Hyderabad's Erragada main road. A man wearing a helmet pulls up next to them and parks his bike right next to them.

The man is seen getting down from the two-wheeler, he removes his helmet and then pulls out a sickle from his bag. He then proceeds to ruthlessly attack the young man, who is sitting on a bike with his wife. The attacker slashes the young man, as the woman then pulls the attacker down on to the ground. He then attacks the woman. As other bystanders attempt to intervene, the attacker threatens them with his sickle before slashing the woman again. At one point, a bystander kicks the attacker, who then walks out of the frame, as the young woman sits up.

This was the scene that played out in the heart of Hyderabad city around 3.30 pm on Wednesday, and was caught on CCTV cameras. Madhavi (20) and Sandeep (21), a couple (both students) who got married in a temple exactly a week ago have been hospitalised. The key suspect in the case, according to the police, is Madhavi's father Manohar Chari, a goldsmith by profession. The incident took place under the jurisdiction of the SR Nagar police near Gokul theatre. Manohar Chari is absconding after the attack.

While Sandeep suffered a deep cut on his face and is getting treated at the Neelima hospital, Madhavi remains critical and has been shifted to Yashoda hospital. Sandeep is out of danger, according to the police.

Madhavi, who hails from Chari community, met Sandeep, a Dalit man, five years ago, while they were both in school. According to friends, he is doing his final year of B.Com from the Vivekananda College, while she is studying in the Hindu college in the city.

A friend of the couple at the hospital told TNM that they had gotten married just a week ago in a temple. Reportedly, the girl’s father asked the couple to meet them at Erragada, Gokul Theatre.

Speaking to TNM, ACP Vijay Kumar said, "The man is out of danger, the woman is critical. She is seriously injured on her neck and her hand. Three teams have been formed to nab the culprit."

"We are still scanning the CCTV cameras," he added. The ACP said that according to eyewitnesses, Madhavi's father was drunk.