Two boys, both inmates of an orphanage, were rescued from the clutches of treasure-hunters who reportedly tried to sacrifice them on a hillock at Yerrabalem in Mangalagirii mandal of the district.
The boys were identified as K Balaji (11) and A Bhaskar (13). According to Mangalagiri Rural CI T Murali Krishna, both are students of class VI and VIII respectively at the Yerrabalem Government School and are inmates of Sri Krishnananda Orphans Home.
On Sunday, Narendra, a PMP doctor who resides near the orphanage, offered some money to the boys and asked them to go along with him. Later, he, along with two other persons - Sk Karimulla and Sk Hussain - took the children to the top of the hillock close to the Panakala Swamy temple. There, they were joined by five other treasure-hunters.
However, a group of children who went to the hillock to attend the nature’s call around 9 p.m. on Sunday, grew suspicious when they saw the two boys and the unusual decorations. They rushed to the village to inform their parents.
Over 25 villagers rushed to the spot around 11 p.m., attacked the treasure-hunters and rescued the boys. Knives smeared with turmeric, kunkum and lemons were recovered from the spot. Villagers overpowered three accused while the others fled away.