In Southern India, police are hunting for two men who attacked a Hindu holy man, cut off his right leg and then made off with it. The leg supposedly has healing powers and its original owner is now recovering from his ordeal in hospital.

Local people believed that by touching the leg they could be healed of spiritual and physical problems.

The leg's owner has "the problem of the drinking" and the the thieves plied the old man with alcohol until he became unconscious, when they severed the leg at the knee. Serves 'em right if the magic is above the knee only and all they get for their efforts is a severe case of athlete's foot.

Let's hope police go out on a limb to solve this crime.

BBC