Daijiworld Media Network – Hyderabad
Hyderabad, Jul 2: Two notorious inter-state thieves were arrested by police in Telangana's Nalgonda district, with one of the accused being shot in the leg after he allegedly attacked police personnel during an operation to apprehend him, officials said on Wednesday.
Following a series of thefts in the district, Nalgonda Superintendent of Police Sharat Chandra Pawar had constituted three special teams to track down those responsible. The teams carried out an extensive investigation across Telangana and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, analysing footage from hundreds of CCTV cameras.
The investigation led police to a gang allegedly headed by habitual offender Bhushmi Srikanth alias Ammiraju (41), who was suspected of involvement in multiple theft cases.
Acting on specific intelligence, police laid surveillance along Hyderabad's Outer Ring Road (ORR) on June 30 after receiving information that the suspects were travelling in a mini truck.
When police intercepted the vehicle, Srikanth allegedly jumped out and attacked constable Vishnuvardhan Giri with an iron rod.
Police initially fired warning shots into the air. However, as the accused allegedly continued the assault, officers shot him in the leg in self-defence before taking him into custody.
Srikanth was admitted to a government hospital for treatment, while his associate, Velpula Jitendra, was also arrested. Both are natives of Andhra Pradesh.
According to police, Srikanth has a long criminal history with around 30 previous cases registered against him. Investigators said he confessed to committing 40 thefts after being released from jail.
His fingerprints were reportedly matched with evidence collected from 10 crime scenes across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Police said he was involved in eight theft cases in Nalgonda district and was also wanted in connection with the murder of a police constable.
Superintendent of Police Sharat Chandra Pawar commended the officers involved in the operation for risking their lives to apprehend the accused and announced rewards for their efforts.