For the Hyderabad police, he was just another criminal. But, this man has left behind his forgettable past and is now a tea-seller.
Karravula Srinivas Reddy is a 25-year-old man with a criminal record who once wanted to become a cricketer like Yuvraj Singh. He started a new innings in life on Wednesday by starting a tea stall at Neredmet with the help of the Cyberabad police.
A man who was accused of committing a number of theft cases and masterminding over 80 house break-ins, Karravula is a new man now and is selling tea to earn a livelihood.
After coming out of jail on January 23, 2015, Karravula fell ill with tuberculosis and was under treatment for over a year.
In January 2016, he approached the Cyberabad Commissioner CV Anand and sought his assistance in turning the corner. The Commissioner considered his request and instructed the local police to set up a tea stall for him.
E.Ramachandra Reddy, DCP Malkajgiri who inaugurated the tea stall on Wednesday told The News Minute, “Observing a great change in Srinivas Reddy's behavior, Cyberabad Commissioner decided to extend help by helping him start a tea stall at Neredmet bus stop to earn a livelihood. Cyberabad Police is ready to extend rehabilitation to such persons who come forward and want to change from their past criminal life. We are looking for many more changes like this.”
DCP Malkajgiri E.Ramachandra Reddy inaugurating the tea stall at Neredmet
A native of Ananthapur district of Andhra Pradesh, Karravula committed his first theft as a juvenile in 2008. He was sent to jail at Lalaguda police station for his complicity in a cell phone theft case.
Karravula told TNM, “In 2008, one day when I bunked school, I was caught by my father and he scolded me and asked me to leave the house. That was the start of my criminal activities and I started committing small thefts for a lark. I was studying in class 10 at that time.”
“I never wanted to become a criminal, but unfortunately when I got caught for the first time by the police, I discontinued school. I felt very guilty to go back to school since I thought everyone would know I am a thief. After meeting a few people in jail, we all started house break-ins for money.”
He added, “When I started all this, I was not that serious about money. It was only after my brother-in-law was diagnosed with cancer that I became serious and wanted to earn money for his cancer treatment. But unfortunately, he did not survive and after his death, I stopped it. He is my inspiration behind this change as he always advised me to leave all this.”
Sravanti, 24-year-old sister of Srinivas Reddy told TNM, “We really appreciate my brother's change, our family was always worried about him but now as he is back as a normal person, we are all very happy.”