Founder of 'Rama Rajyam' Among Six Arrested Following Assault on Chilkur Temple Priest
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Synopsis
The Cyberabad Police have arrested six individuals, including the founder of 'Rama Rajyam', Kovvuri Veer Raghava Reddy, for attacking the head priest of Chilkur Balaji Temple, Rangarajan. The police are investigating the incident further, emphasizing the need for strict action against such assaults on religious figures.
Key Takeaways
- Six arrests made in connection with the attack.
- Kovvuri Veer Raghava Reddy is the main suspect and founder of 'Rama Rajyam'.
- Assailants demanded financial support from the priest.
- Police are taking stringent action against the perpetrators.
- Chief Minister condemned the attack on the priest.
Hyderabad, Feb 10 (NationPress) The Cyberabad Police apprehended five additional suspects, including two women, for the assault on the head priest of the Chilkur Balaji Temple, Rangarajan.
The primary suspect, Kovvuri Veer Raghava Reddy, who is also the founder of the Sri Rama Rajyam organization, was taken into custody on Sunday after Rangarajan filed a complaint.
Raghava Reddy (45) resides in Manikonda, Hyderabad, and hails from the East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh. He has since been placed in judicial custody.
Ch. Srinivas, the Deputy Commissioner of Police for Rajendranagar Zone, reported that on Monday morning, five individuals, including two women from Khammam and Nizamabad districts, were arrested.
The DCP detailed that around 8 a.m. on February 7, approximately 20-25 individuals dressed in black uniforms arrived at Rangarajan's residence. They demanded financial support and recruitment into the 'Rama Rajyam Army' while physically assaulting him. This incident surfaced on February 8, leading to the registration of a case based on Rangarajan's complaint.
As per the police statement, K. Veer Raghava Reddy initiated 'Rama Rajyam' in 2022 through various social media platforms, including Facebook, and operated a YouTube channel. He shared Bhagavad Gita verses and encouraged people to enlist in the Army to defend Hindu Dharma. He also proclaimed that individuals registering between September 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024, would be inducted into the 'Rama Rajyam Army' with a salary of Rs 20,000.
In response to this announcement, 25 individuals first convened with Reddy on January 24, 2025, in Tanuku. After a four-day stay, they proceeded to Kotappakonda, contributing Rs 2,000 each for uniforms tailored by a local artisan. On February 6, after receiving their uniforms, they gathered at a private residence in Yapral, Hyderabad, to take photos and videos in uniform against the organization's backdrop. The following day, they traveled to Chilkur in three vehicles and assaulted Rangarajan.
Meanwhile, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy reached out to Rangarajan via phone to offer his support.
The Chief Minister's Office reported that he condemned such attacks on priests and instructed police officials to take strict measures against those involved in the assault on the temple's chief priest.
