Chilkur Balaji Temple Priest Attacked

A group of people attacked Chilkur Balaji temple head priest C S Rangarajan at his residence on February 7.

Rangarajan said that about 20 people barged into his house near the temple premises, and manhandled him. He needed to be taken to a hospital with internal injuries, and was discharged soon after.

Temples Protection Movement Convenor M V Soundararajan, who is also Rangarajan's father, alleged that the attackers belonged to an organisation called Society of Rama Rajya, and that they wanted Rangarajan to join their organisation, which would help them get funding. When Rangarajan refused, they threatened and even manhandled him.

Soundararajan condemned the violence, and requested the police department to take strong action in the incident. He also said that he was performing the duties of the temple after the attack on his son.

The incident has created a stir in the two Telugu-speaking States as the priest is famous among the Telugu people. A video of the attack is viral on the social media. Many Hindu organisations have strongly condemned the attack and demanded strict action against those who attacked Rangarajan.

The police, who registered a case and launched an investigation, kept the matter confidential for two days. They are in the process of identifying the accused on the basis of CCTV footage. The main accused Veera Raghava Reddy has been arrested, but the other persons along with him are said to be still at large.