Prakasam police bust notorious inter-district gang of thieves- NSP NEWS

An inter-district gang of smugglers and thieves allegedly involved in 16 daytime house robberies at multiple locations was busted by the Prakasam district police on Monday. The police arrested three thieves and recovered ₹85 lakh worth gold and silver ornaments, six-kilograms of marijuana and a car from them.

The investigation began based on a theft complaint filed in Podili Town. Police formed different teams and identified the accused who was travelling in a car through CCTV cameras. On April 17, Podili CI received information that the gang was spotted fleeing after committing a robbery in Kavali. However, when the police intercepted them, the gang rammed their vehicle into the police jeep and fled with the stolen property.

On May 4, during checks, the police found the thieves vehicle near SVKP College on Darsi Road. The thieves tried to escape again, but their car crashed into a tree, allowing the police to arrest them.

The accused have been identified as Cheemparthi Fakruddin, Mahaboob Peera and Gandlu Latheef Basha all belonging to YSR Kadapa district. Prakasam District SP A. R. Damodhar said: “Fakruddin initially had gone to jail for committing thefts in locked houses. After his release he took to smuggling red sandalwood from the forests in the surrounding areas of Chapadu and went to jail again. He was released on January 30, 2025 and resumed committing thefts across Nandyal, Kadapa, Tirupati, and other areas.“

According to the police, Fakruddin has been involved in 21 thefts cases and 74 red sandalwood smuggling cases in the past. Presently, Fakruddin along with his accomplices, Mahaboob Peera and Basha, have been involved in 16 theft cases and eight red sandalwood smuggling cases.

Prakasam District SP A. R. Damodhar appreciated Darsi DSP B. Lakshminarayana, DSP, Mydukur DSP Rajandra Prasad, Podili CI T. Venkateswarlu, Maidukuru Rural CI Sivashankar, and their teams.