Police in Hindupur, Andhra Pradesh, arrested 11 people allegedly preparing to waylay a vehicle carrying pigs on the Sira-Kodigenahalli NH-544E highway, officials said on Wednesday. The operation took place near Singireddypalli within the limits of the Hindupur One Town police station in Sri Sathya Sai district.
According to police, teams acted on a tip-off and intercepted the suspects on the highway before the alleged robbery could be carried out. Officers seized two four-wheeler pickup vehicles, six country-made firearms, ₹8.50 lakh in cash and stones that were allegedly kept ready for use during the operation.
Sri Sathya Sai district Superintendent of Police S. Sathish Kumar said the suspects were allegedly planning to stop a vehicle transporting pigs and steal the livestock. The police action was carried out by teams from Hindupur I Town police station, according to the report.
The arrested suspects were identified as Erikala Chandrasekhar, Sake Rajesh, Erikala Ramesh, Venkatesh alias Bongali, Bestha Rakesh alias Rakhi, Sake Mahesh, Erikala Ganganna, Nadimindlu Lakshman, Erikala Sunil alias Kakodu, J. Rohith alias Pilli and Venkatesh alias Chevulodu.
Police said questioning of the accused linked them to several earlier cases registered at police stations in Anantapur and Sri Sathya Sai districts. These cases allegedly include theft, attacks on police personnel and attempted murder. The claims are based on the police account of the investigation.
The police also alleged that the group had stolen 10 pigs from a house on Dandu Road in Hindupur on August 27. In another incident, the gang allegedly attempted to rob a petrol bunk on the Dhone-Gooty road. Police said officers reached the location accidentally, after which the suspects allegedly attacked them and escaped.
The interception on NH-544E prevented the alleged highway robbery from taking place, while the seizure of vehicles, firearms, cash and stones forms part of the material cited by police in the case. Further legal proceedings will determine the charges and evidence against the arrested individuals.
