Hayathnagar: Colonies on tight vigil as chaddi gang on prowl

Hayathnagar: Not only police, the residents of the region are on toes, as the 'chaddi gang', the notorious burglars are on prowl. The locals are spending sleepless nights with the recent incident at Kuntulur, struck two houses and decamped with Rs 70, 000 cash and 15 tolas of gold.

They even snatched a gold chain of 4.5 tolas injuring an old woman. It is alleged that the members of the gang were spotted by the police, but they sneaked away without being caught. Two burglaries in one month in the same area has thrown a challenge to the local police.

Alleging that police were not responding in time, locals said they started patrolling on their own in groups of five or ten and watching the streets with sticks and torches in their hands.

Meanwhile, some of the residents have already arranged CCTV cameras and were keeping a tight vigil in their surroundings. While some of the residents are inviting their relatives and friends to spend nights at their homes for security concerns.

The police are investigating the reasons for the gang to choose this area as it is still under development. The area is not densely populated as houses are being constructed here and there. Several new colonies are coming up with isolated houses not within the reach of populated areas.

On other hand, police doubt whether the crimes were being committed by chaddi gang or locals as some witnesses told police that the gang members were speaking in Telugu.

However, locals are scared with reports of thefts and disappointed with the way police responded. Saikiran Reddy, a local said they were taking up night vigil as they have lost confidence in police. Criminals choose area in outskirts, so police should focus on such localities, he said.