Hyd cops bust gang for temple thefts: Idols, jewellery worth Rs 26 lakh recovered

The police said that they recovered silver crowns, idols, spoons, plates, lamps and even brass bells.
Hyd cops bust gang for temple thefts: Idols, jewellery worth Rs 26 lakh recovered
Hyd cops bust gang for temple thefts: Idols, jewellery worth Rs 26 lakh recovered
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The Rachakonda police on Tuesday nabbed a two-member gang who were involved in a series of thefts at temples and seized property with Rs 26 lakh from their possession.

The accused have been identified as two brothers; 54-year-old Sarangi alias Arjun, a garlic and ginger seller and Sanju alias Raju, an auto driver by profession. Both the accused hailed from Mahbubnagar District and had been staying at LB Nagar.

The police said that Sarangi committed several petty thefts, stealing cable wire and copper wires from transformers in the districts of Rangareddy, Nalgonda, Nizamabad and Mahbubnagar over the last 30 years.

“As per his statement, he has committed more than 300 offences. From 2013, he was involved in 78 cases. In the beginning, he only used to commit petty offences but had started conducting thefts at temples, to acquire more money,” the police said in a press release.

Meanwhile, Sarangi’s younger brother, also had a criminal history with 12 cases registered against him.

Sarangi was released from jail in August last year and he was not satisfied with selling copper wires and therefore, decided to change his modus operandi, the police said. With his brother, he decided to steals idols from temples in their trolley auto.  

Some of the places where the accused had committed offences included Venkatswara Swamy temple in Ameerpet, Sree Seetharama Chandra Swamy temple and Chowdeshwary temple in Hayathnagar, Gattu Maisamma temple in Ghatkesar, Tirumala Nada Swamy Temple in Chityala among others.  

The police said that they recovered silver crowns, silver cones, idols, spoons, plates, lamps and even brass bells, totally worth Rs 26 lakh in the market.   

The police said that the accused were nabbed as they were proceeding toward Srisailam to sell the stolen property in the auto, based on a reliable tip off, and booked the duo.

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