By Omer Farooq

BBC News, Hyderabad



Holy men are renowned for their healing powers

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.

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.

Police say the incident happened 550 km north of the state capital, Hyderabad.

'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.

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.

"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.

"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.

Mr Kondaiah was popular among Hindu devotees

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.

"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.

"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."