Hans News Service Vijayawada

NTRdistrict police have cracked a temple theft case within 72 hours and arrested three habitual offenders, recovering stolen property worth around Rs 15 lakh. The arrested persons were identified as Karam Sambaiah (28) of Velerupadu mandal in Eluru district, Derangula Malleshu (36) of Nagarkurnool district and Battula Kotaiah alias Kota Koteswara Rao (29) of Piduguralla in Palnadu district. NTR District Police Commissionerate Rural Division Deputy Police Commissioner (DCP) B Lakshminarayana produced the accused before the media at Chillakallu police station on Thursday.

Speaking on the occasion, the DCP said the theft was reported at Sri Chennakeswara Swamy Temple in Mutyala village under Chillakallu police station limits in Jaggaiahpet mandal. Acting on the directions of Police Commissioner SV Rajasekhar Babu, special teams were formed under the supervision of Nandigama ACP CH Srinivasa Rao and Jaggaiahpet Inspector Venkateswarlu, he said.

Police examined CCTV footage from the temple and surrounding areas and identified a suspicious car and its occupants.

The footage revealed that the suspects had allegedly conducted a recce of the temple a day before the theft. Based on the vehicle number and photographs captured on CCTV, police tracked their movements and detained them near the outskirts of Kodad, he added. The DCP said the three accused were habitual offenders who had met while serving jail terms in previous cases. Kotaiah was familiar with the locality as his in-laws reside in Jayanthipuram village and allegedly helped the others conduct the recce. Lakshminarayana said CCTV footage played a crucial role in solving the case. He said around 13,000 advanced CCTV cameras had been installed across the Commissionerate and urged temple committees and other establishments to install cameras for crime prevention. He appreciated the police teams for their swift investigation and recovery of the stolen property.