Upset over his wife not returning from her parents’ home, a 32-year-old man attacked her with a

and chopped off her nose and lips at Kagawad town in Belagavi’s Athani taluk on Sunday night.

, 28, was rushed to a hospital and is said to stable. “Sunita, from Kagawad, married Suresh Naik from Shedashyal village in Shirol taluk, Maharashtra, in 2016. Their relationship soon ran into trouble as the couple started fighting over trivial issues. Alleging harassment, Sunita left her husband in November,” a police source said.

After waiting for two months, Suresh decided to visit his in-laws and speak to his wife. He arrived at Kagawad town on Sunday morning. His day-long efforts to convince Sunita failed. As a last-ditch effort, he spoke to her on Sunday night, but the talks ended in another fight. “After Sunita returned to her bedroom, Suresh picked up a sickle and cut her nose and lips while she was sleeping,” police said.

The accused is on the run. Police have launched a hunt for him. State police officials have also alerted their counterparts in Maharashtra.