HR Srinivas, an MNREGA worker escaped after 2 men tried to chop his hands off.
A technical coordinator for the MNREGA scheme in Karnataka's Tumkuru district was allegedly attacked with a sickle by labour contractors for refusing to clear "inflated" bills.
Karnataka Police said that an FIR has been registered and they are on the lookout for the culprits while state Minister Raj HK Patil promised strict action against the attackers.
The incident happened near Thalakere on Monday evening when HR Srinivas (53) was returning towards Magadi near Bengaluru from work.
Two contractors had an argument with Mr Srinivas at his office in the afternoon after he rejected the inflated bills they had prepared. Following the argument they warned him of dire consequences, Mr Srinivas alleged.
"An Inflated bill was prepared for work on recharge pits which they had undertaken. They had not maintained the quality and excess measurement was recorded."
"I had reduced the amount in accordance to the actual work that was carried out on ground. I have been punished for that," Mr Srinivas claimed.
"Two people (contractors) had come on a two wheeler. They first attacked me on my head, but I escaped. Then they tried to chop off my hand. I managed to escape and fled toward a shop nearby where people saved me," Mr Srinivas said.
Demanding strict punishment for the contractors, Mr Srinivas, who has now been discharged from the hospital, said police have informed him that they are trying to nab the contractors.
"They came to kill be but God saved me," Mr Srinivas added. Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj HK Patil also visited Mr Srinivas at his residence in Bengaluru and inquired about his health and the incident.
Mr Patil said the state government and people are "proud" of Mr Srinivas's strong will to reform the system with honesty.
"An Inquiry will happen; a police complaint has already been filed, I will collect information. The government will take strict action against the culprits," he added.