Ankola: Senior Congress leader Gopal Krishna Nayak was seriously injured after unidentified assailants allegedly attempted to murder him in a brazen daylight attack in Ankola town of Uttara Kannada district on Wednesday.

The incident occurred at around 10 am near Keni Road–Market Road, close to the Kankaneswar temple. 

According to sources, Nayak had just alighted from his car and was heading towards the temple when a group of unidentified men, who had been following him in another vehicle, intercepted and attacked him.

Sources said the attackers arrived in a Goa-registered car. They initially assaulted him with iron rods and later stabbed him with a knife before fleeing the scene.

In a dramatic turn, Nayak reportedly managed to escape further assault by rushing into a nearby bank and locking himself inside. Preliminary information suggests that the assailants had been staying at a hotel in Ankola for the past three days.

Nayak sustained serious injuries to his head and other parts of the body and was immediately shifted to a private hospital in Ankola, where he is currently undergoing treatment.

He had earlier served as a secretary of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC).

Police said the entire incident was captured on a nearby CCTV camera. Superintendent of Police visited the spot soon after the incident and reviewed the situation.

A case has been registered at Ankola Police Station, and efforts are underway to trace and apprehend the accused. Further investigation is in progress.