Factional Clash Rocks Baptist Church In Khanapur

HYDERABAD: A verbal altercation between two factions escalated into a confrontation at the Baptist church in Khanapur,. Members attacked one another, smashed CCTV cameras, struck each other with chairs and shattered windows, all the while hurling abusive language. Several people sustained injuries.

Police intervened and used lathis to disperse the groups. The clash broke out while prayers were underway inside the church, resulting in minor injuries to several individuals. Narsingi ACP Ramana said cases had been registered against both groups after they filed complaints against each other.

A case was registered against 22 individuals based on a complaint by P. Krishna, alleging assault by Rameshwaram Narasimha and others. A counter‑case was filed against 15 individuals associated with Krishna, based on a complaint by R. Srinivas. Both cases were booked under Crime No. 1702/2026, invoking different provisions of the BNS.

Krishna alleged that Narasimha had surreptitiously established societies and installed a signboard within the church premises without authorisation, and said they were attacked for removing it. He claimed the treasurer sustained a head injury and accused Narasimha of eyeing the land, valued at about ₹30 crore.

Srinivas countered that the land had been donated by his grandfather and father, and denied any encroachment. He alleged that Krishna and Devidas’s faction had attacked them, and rejected claims of forming a fraudulent society.

The Baptist church branch in Khanapur was established in 1991 under the Narayanaguda Baptist Church. The premises cover 26 guntas. Rameshwaram Narasimha served as president for 20 years, while Krishna has held the post for the past two years.