Udupi, Jul 23: A special prayer service was held at the Mother of Sorrows Church in Udupi on Friday for the recovery of Congress leader Oscar Fernandes, who is under treatment at a private hospital here following a head injury.

Udupi diocese bishop Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo conducted the prayer service.

Addressing the gathering, former minister Vinay Kumaar Sorake said doctors are providing the best treatment to Frenandes.

He had the opportunity to serve at the national level for a very long period.Though the doctors are putting their efforts, prayers are also needed at this juncture, he said.

"We have offered prayers in mosques, church and also in temples. Let us pray for his speedy recovery," he added.

Prayers were also held at various religious centres in Udupi.

Special prayers were held in St Francis Xavier Church Udyavar, Polipu Jamia Masjid, Kapu Janardhan Temple and Sri Vishwanath Kshetra.

The 80-year-old leader was hospitalised after suffering a fall while practicing yoga at his apartment in the city on Sunday.

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Hyderabad: Three members of a family and their pet dog were injured here when a group of five persons attacked them, accusing the pet of biting a member of the latter's family, police said on Thursday.

A video of the incident which took place on May 14 in Rehmath Nagar, showing a group of people beating up a man and his dog with sticks and rods, has gone viral on social media. The man's wife and mother are seen trying to stop the brutal attack on him in the video.

A case under section 307 (attempt to murder) and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and relevant provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act was registered at Madhura Nagar police station in connection with the incident, and the five attackers were arrested, police said.

In a police complaint, the brother of the victim stated that on May 8 when his brother and wife were going to cast the postal ballot vote and opened the door, their pet dog slipped outside and went towards a couple, their neighbours. His brother immediately stopped the dog from advancing, he added.

But, the couple questioned his brother, accusing him of inciting the dog to attack them, the complainant said, and alleged that the couple's family members attacked his brother and slapped his wife and beat up a relative over the matter.

In this regard, a complaint was lodged and a counter complaint was also filed alleging that the pet dog attacked and bit a family member of the neighbour, police said.

The complainant said that on May 14, when his brother took the dog for a walk and stood in front of his house, the neighbour along with four unknown persons attempted to kill him and the pet dog in revenge for the previous incident.

The complainant further accused that the group of people attacked his brother and the pet dog with rods and sticks, as seen in the video, and when his brother's wife and mother tried to rescue them, they also attacked them resulting in injuries to them and also the dog.