Date:11/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/11/stories/2008101158250100.htm

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Robbers beat man to death in temple at Shamirpet

Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD: A labourer, who is believed to have witnessed a burglary at the Katta Maisamma temple at Shamirpet lake, was beaten to death by the intruders who broke open the ‘hundi’ and took away the offerings made to the temple on Thursday night.

The temple is located on the busy Rajiv Rahadari, but the burglary-cum-murder was noticed only on Friday morning. The murdered man identified as Rohit (23), of Aliabad village, was sleeping in an open place abutting the temple.

He had apparently woken up as the intruders were breaking open the ‘hundi’. Perhaps apprehending that he would identify them, the robbers beat him to death, police said.

Instant death

He died instantly as he was repeatedly beaten with an iron rod. The burglars collected about Rs. 5,000 from the ‘hundi’ and also made an unsuccessful attempt to break another ‘hundi’. Temple Chairman Balaji Goud said an inebriated Rohit was loitering near the temple since Thursday evening.

The victim was working in a brick kiln at Aliabad village. CLUES team and fingerprint experts dusted the place for collecting prints.