Hyderabad: Two held for acid attack on Saidabad temple accountant

Hyderabad: The Saidabad police reportedly detained two individuals within 24 hours of an alleged acid attack on the accountant of the Peddathota Bhulakshmi temple.

Both the accused are priests and one of them has been identified as Raikod Hariputhra alias Harinath Krishna. The victim, Narsing Rao, a resident of Lakshmi Nagar colony, has been maintaining the accounts of Saidabad temple for several years.

As per reports, on the night of Holi festival, Rao was sitting at his desk in the temple when a masked man entered the temple premises and greeted him with Holi wishes. The man requested him to perform archana for him and suddenly splashed acid on his face and fled the premises.

Rao sustained burn injuries on his face, hands and head. As he was writhing in pain, locals rushed to his help and shifted him to Yashoda hospital in Malakpet for treatment. The accountant’s condition is stated to be critical.

After receiving a report, Saidabad ACP Venkanna Naik and Inspector Raghavender reached the spot and gathered details about the acid attack. Following the incident, protests erupted in the area as devotees demanded justice for the victim. The police have registered a case and assured the public that the culprits will be nabbed soon.

The attack was caught on CCTV cameras installed in the temple. The footage shows a masked man entering the place of worship with a bottle and approaching the victim.

After reviewing the CCTV footage of the temple and from the area, the police identified the suspects and detained them. The police have not announced the arrests yet.