A priest allegedly kidnapped and attempted to murder a six-year-old boy to settle scores with the boy’s grandfather.
The UKG student went missing from his school on Monday evening. His grandfather lodged a missing complaint after a thorough search proved futile. Nageswara Rao, the accused, had nursed a grouse against the boy’s grandfather who had got him removed from the temple service over some issue in the past. He had even allegedly threatened the boy’s grandfather with dire consequences.
“Nageswara Rao picked up the boy after school and took him to a secluded place near Aganampudi. He beat up the boy and threw him into bushes. He even hit him with stones and the boy fainted. It was already dark by then and, taking the boy for dead, the accused left him and fled,” Gajuwaka Inspector Ch. Vivekananda said.
Found in bushesSome passers-by noticed the boy lying in the bushes and dialled the EMRI 108 ambulance. He was rushed to the King George Hospital (KGH) for treatment. Later, around 11 p.m. the ambulance driver noticed the school uniform of the boy and realised that it was the same uniform worn by children of the school, located near his house.
He rang up a teacher of the school and informed her of the incident. The Principal and teachers, who were already on the lookout for the missing boy, informed his parents and they rushed to the KGH.
Mr. Vivekananda said that the accused was taken into custody and an attempt to murder and kidnap cases were booked against him.
The Gajuwaka police are investigating.
