Yanadi Kondaiah, an alleged holy man of Southern India, now in his 80’s, is recovering in the Tirupati Hospital after 2 men stole his ‘holy’ leg, which is claimed to have magical, healing powers.

Yanadi was approached by 2 strangers, who knew his weakness for drinking, and claimed to want to thank him for his medical help. They plied him with liquor in a deserted spot on the outskirts of his village until he passed out. They then used a hunting knife to remove his right leg from below the knee and left him to bleed slowly to death.

Mr Kondaiah was reported as saying that he had no idea why he had been targeted in such a manner and that he hoped his leg would not help the assailant’s in any way, shape or form. Yanadi was fond of speaking about his leg’s alleged magical powers to all who would listen, and said, amid his tears, “I have always been good to others and helped who ever came to me.” He was at a loss to understand why this bad thing had happened to him.