According to the family of the priest, the assailants attacked the priest and aimed to impose Rama Rajya
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy directed police to take stringent action against those who allegedly attacked Chilkur Balaji Temple chief priest C. S. Rangarajan. As per reports, CM Reddy spoke to the chief priest over phone and expressed concern and sympathised with him. Mr. Reddy said that such attacks will not be tolerated.
The priest of Chilkur Balaji Temple, Rangarajan, was allegedly attacked at his residence in Chilkur, Rangareddy district, Telangana, on February 7, with one person arrested in connection to the incident, police reported on Sunday.
Rangarajan claimed that around 20 individuals barged into his home near the temple and "manhandled" him. Based on his statement, Moinabad police filed a case and initiated an investigation.
MV Soundararajan, convenor of the Temples Protection Movement and Rangarajan's father, issued a statement alleging that the attackers were part of a group claiming to be descendants of the Ikshvaku clan. He stated the group seeks to establish Rama Rajya through private armies and punish those who oppose their agenda. Soundararajan assured that Rangarajan was safe and a police complaint had been filed.
Police confirmed the arrest of one suspect and stated investigations were ongoing to identify the other attackers and their motives.
The attack has sparked outrage, with Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao condemning the incident after meeting the priest. On X, he criticized the silence of "protectors of Hinduism" and questioned the Telangana government's inaction. "Chilkur temple chief priest and a great scholar Shri Rangarajan garu was attacked two days ago by fringe elements. Not a word from the protectors of Hinduism on this act of cowardice," he wrote.