Six of interstate temple offenders gang held in Shamshabad

Hyderabad: Central Crime Station, Shamshabad officials on Friday arrested six members of inter-state habitual temple offenders gang and seized 60 grams gold, 3.26 kg silver ornaments, three bikes and five mobile phones from the possession of the accused.

According to Cyberabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar, accused identified as N Adinarayana, N Eshwaraiah, G Anjaneyulu, N Yesaiah, N Yesu Ratnam and N Anjaiah have committed 50 temple offences in the limits of Cyberabad Commissionerate, Vikarabad, Mahbubnagar, Narayanpet, Wanaparthi, Nagarakurnool, Gadwal (Jogulamba) districts of Telangana, Kadapa, Chittoor of Andra Pradesh and Chikkaballapur and Kolar of Karnataka State.

The gang hails from Kotha Madaravarm village of Kadapa district and is committing property offences by breaking the locks of temples during night-time in different areas. They were using motorcycles for their transportation to different places to commit temple offences.

They take shelter at outskirts of villages or town by erecting temporary huts by the road-side or open area and stay with families.

The main offender Adinarayna and his brother Eashwaraiah after begin released from jail formed a gang with their relatives and started committing temple offences for their personal gain and lavish lifestyle.

During day time they visit surrounding villages on motor cycles for identifying the temples. They conduct reccee at the temple premises and surroundings and go inside the temple for darshan and put coins as offerings in the hundi box. They listen to hundi sound by keeping ear at hundi box to understand how much cash is available in the hundi.

At about 8 pm they go to the temple on motorcycles and break the lock of temples and commit theft of hundi cash and share the amount. Often, they change their residence and do not stay continuously at one place. Police collected information through CCTV footage and tracked their motorcycles and arrested the offenders.