In a major breakthrough, Anantapur police on Saturday busted an interstate burglary gang involved in a string of thefts targeting temples and isolated houses across Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The operation led to the arrest of three habitual offenders and the recovery of a significant cache of stolen valuables.
According to Superintendent of Police P Jagadeesh, IPS, the gang was linked to at least 20 burglary cases, primarily targeting temples on village outskirts and houses in remote areas.
The arrested individuals have been identified as:
V. Marriswamy alias Sangeetha (45)
V. Raju (37)
M. Srinivasulu (49)
All three hail from Settur mandal in Anantapur district and have prior criminal records in both Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, including thefts in Chitradurga, Hiriyur, Abbinahal, and Challikere regions.
Police recovered:
12.35 kg of silver ornaments worth ₹22 lakh
44 grams of gold
20 kg of brass bells
5 kg of copper utensils
Investigations revealed the trio had resorted to burglary to fund their gambling and alcohol addictions, after falling into debt. The stolen items were typically resold through untraceable channels.
The gang targeted several well-known temples, including:
Parlachedu Tatimaremmavari Temple
Chintarlapalli Anjaneya Swamy Temple
Kotthamiddele Peddamma Temple
Akkammamba Temple (Kalyandurg)
Multiple Maremmavari and Sunkulamma shrines across Anantapur and bordering Karnataka regions
Their arrest marks a significant blow to a long-running chain of religious and residential burglaries in the region.
