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| Thieves cut off man's 'holy leg' | Thieves cut off man's 'holy leg' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Police in southern India are hunting for two men who attacked a Hindu holy man, cut off his right leg and then made off with it. | Police in southern India are hunting for two men who attacked a Hindu holy man, cut off his right leg and then made off with it. |
| The 80-year-old holy man, Yanadi Kondaiah, claimed to have healing powers in the leg. | The 80-year-old holy man, Yanadi Kondaiah, claimed to have healing powers in the leg. |
| He is now recovering from his ordeal in hospital in the city of Tirupati in the state of Andhra Pradesh. | He is now recovering from his ordeal in hospital in the city of Tirupati in the state of Andhra Pradesh. |
| Local people believed they could be healed of spiritual and physical problems if they touched his leg. | Local people believed they could be healed of spiritual and physical problems if they touched his leg. |
| They also believed in Mr Kondaiah's predictions of the future. | They also believed in Mr Kondaiah's predictions of the future. |
| Police say the incident happened 550 km north of the state capital, Hyderabad. | Police say the incident happened 550 km north of the state capital, Hyderabad. |
| 'Brutal manner' | 'Brutal manner' |
| Police say that the self-styled 'Godman' - who lives in a village near the city of Tirupati - was approached a few days ago by two strangers who came to seek his advice over a medical problem. | Police say that the self-styled 'Godman' - who lives in a village near the city of Tirupati - was approached a few days ago by two strangers who came to seek his advice over a medical problem. |
| Holy men are revered throughout much of India | Holy men are revered throughout much of India |
| They say that the pair returned to the old man on Tuesday ostensibly to thank him for his help. | They say that the pair returned to the old man on Tuesday ostensibly to thank him for his help. |
| "As the old man had the weakness of drinking, he accepted their invitation to have drinks with them," said local police Sub-Inspector Pendakanti Dastgiri. | "As the old man had the weakness of drinking, he accepted their invitation to have drinks with them," said local police Sub-Inspector Pendakanti Dastgiri. |
| "They took him to a deserted spot in the outskirts of the village. | "They took him to a deserted spot in the outskirts of the village. |
| "After the old man had passed out under the influence of liquor, they cut off his right leg from the knee," he said. | "After the old man had passed out under the influence of liquor, they cut off his right leg from the knee," he said. |
| Mr Dastgiri said that the amputation was carried out in a very "brutal manner" and that police are still looking for the leg and the men who so cruelly took it. | |
| He said that the assailants used a sharp hunting knife, and left the old man alone and bleeding slowly to death. | He said that the assailants used a sharp hunting knife, and left the old man alone and bleeding slowly to death. |
| Mr Kondaiah was popular among Hindu devotees | Mr Kondaiah was popular among Hindu devotees |
| Local people who found him unconscious alerted the police, who rushed him to hospital in Tirupati. | Local people who found him unconscious alerted the police, who rushed him to hospital in Tirupati. |
| After regaining consciousness Mr Kondaiah said that he had no idea why he was targeted in such a manner, and did not understand the motive of the miscreants in taking away his leg. | After regaining consciousness Mr Kondaiah said that he had no idea why he was targeted in such a manner, and did not understand the motive of the miscreants in taking away his leg. |
| "I have always been good to others and helped who ever came to me. Then why has this been done to me?" he asked amid his tears. | "I have always been good to others and helped who ever came to me. Then why has this been done to me?" he asked amid his tears. |
| Police say the reason for the attack could be because Mr Kondaiah told too many people of the alleged magical powers of his right leg. | Police say the reason for the attack could be because Mr Kondaiah told too many people of the alleged magical powers of his right leg. |
| "This might have motivated some people to take away his leg hoping to benefit from it," a police spokesman said. | "This might have motivated some people to take away his leg hoping to benefit from it," a police spokesman said. |
| "But it is difficult to say that this was the only motive. It could also be a case of a revenge attack." | "But it is difficult to say that this was the only motive. It could also be a case of a revenge attack." |