Inter-State temple theft gang held

A pack of inter-State spot offenders from Andhra Pradesh, progressive successful a drawstring of temple thefts and shutter-lifting offences crossed Hyderabad and Rachakonda, was arrested by the Commissioner’s Task Force, South-East Zone team, on with IS Sadan police.

Santosh Nagar Division ACP Sukdev Singh said that 5 accused and 1 juvenile were nabbed connected Sunday wrong 3 days of the offences. The arrests led to the detection of 12 cases, including 4 temple thefts, six shutter-lifting incidents, and 2 motorcycle thefts. Officers recovered ₹17,104 successful cash, 2 stolen two-wheelers, 4 mobile phones, and tools utilized successful the break-ins, with full spot worthy astir ₹4 lakh recovered.

The accused were identified arsenic Juvvala Tharun Kumar Raju, 21, a mason, Dagarapu Ellyaajaru, 22, a labourer, Maruboyina Mavullu, 19, a poultry worker, Gandreddy Lokesh, 19, a barber, and Konala Rajji, 18, a home-maker, each from Bhimavaram successful West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh. A juvenile from the aforesaid country was besides involved.

“Tharun Kumar Raju, a known offender with 41 erstwhile cases, was arrested successful May 2025 by P-Gannavaram constabulary and aboriginal released connected bail successful October. Soon after, helium regrouped with the others and decided to people temples and shops successful Hyderabad, believing they would gully little attraction than crimes successful their hometown,” said the officer.

The pack archetypal stole a motorcycle successful Nandigama earlier reaching Hyderabad, wherever they took structure successful Kammaguda, Nadargul. Over the adjacent 2 nights, betwixt November 4 and 6, they committed aggregate burglaries, including thefts astatine temples successful LB Nagar and Saidabad, and a bid of store break-ins nether the limits of IS Sadan, Saroornagar, Begum Bazaar, and Sultan Bazaar constabulary stations.

After the crimes, the radical returned to Bhimavaram but came backmost to Hyderabad connected November 7 intending to proceed their thefts. They were arrested connected November 9 adjacent Champapet during vehicle-checks pursuing a tip-off.

Upon interrogation, the accused confessed to the offences, and stolen spot was recovered from their possession. They person been remanded to judicial custody.