Guwahati: The world famous Kamakhya temple atop the picturesque Neelachal hills, witness to human sacrifices till the last century, was about to see history repeat itself but for the alert priests who foiled the attempts of a self proclaimed 'sadhu'.

The 'sadhu', one Satya Mazumdar took his 14-month old daughter to the main shrine of the temple and was about to slit her throat when the 'pandas' (priests) of the temple raised a hue and cry and got him arrested on June 13.

The incident created sensation in the temple that was thronged by devotees from across the country and abroad for the annual 'Ambubuchi' festival scheduled on June 22. Irate youths roughed up the person before police came to the spot and arrested him.

Temple administrator Riju Sarma said that the man, residing in the temple along with other devotees for the past couple of days, was behaving in an "abnormal" fashion. "He suddenly seized the child, named Tara Devi, and was about to slit her throat with a razor, luckily he was spotted and the gruesome crime averted."

The child who suffered minor injury in the neck was admitted to the Gauhati Medical College hospital and was on June 14 reported to be out of danger.

Jalukbari police said the man was interrogated after his arrest. He initially appeared to be intoxicated, but when the effect wore off he denied that he had tried to kill his daughter.

PTI