Chittoor Police Bust Illegal Prenatal Sex Testing Network

The racket came to light during a raid led by the Bangarupalem police along with officials of the health department, near Chandrasekharapuram village in Ragimanupenta panchayat.
This followed a complaint from Dr KS Lohith Changalrayan, medical officer of the Tummakuppam PHC.
Police said the accused were conducting fetal sex determination tests on pregnant women at an under-construction house. One suspect escaped from the scene, while the others present were taken into custody and questioned.
Police found that pregnant women from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka were being contacted and brought to the Chittoor-Bangarupalem area for the tests. The accused allegedly collected around ₹10,000 from each woman for the procedures using a scanning machine, without authorisation.
Police identified 14 pregnant women who did so, and recorded their statements.
The arrested were B Padmavati of Mittur, V Jyothi of the police colony in Chittoor, who allegedly conducted the scans, S Jyothish of Cheekurupalli village, and N Roman Kumar of Chandrasekharapuram village.
Police said B Sudhakar Reddy of Chittoor and Nagaraju, who allegedly contacted pregnant women and arranged their visits, were absconding. The arrested were produced before a court.

Midnight theft bid sparks panic in Badvel

Tension gripped Badvel town in Kadapa district after miscreants attempted a burglary at a furniture showroom in the early hours of Sunday.
According to police, unidentified thieves created a ruckus past midnight and targeted an MC Furniture showroom in the town. The culprits reportedly executed the operation with a well-planned strategy, first cutting off the CCTV camera cables to avoid detection before gaining entry into the premises.
Using iron rods, they broke open the shutter locks and side door locks to enter the showroom. Once inside, they rummaged through cash drawers and cupboards, breaking open locks in search of money. However, the exact amount of cash or valuables stolen is yet to be ascertained.
In a concerning development, the attempted theft comes just a day after a burglary incident at the same owner’s residence, raising suspicions of a targeted attack.
Police rushed to the spot upon receiving information and have launched an investigation. Officials suspect that a single gang could be behind the series of thefts reported in Badvel in recent days.
Residents have expressed fear over the rising incidents, alleging that thieves are closely monitoring houses locked by families who travel out of town and striking during the night. With consecutive theft attempts unsettling the locality, police have intensified patrolling and are examining clues to trace the culprits.

Op Vajra Prahar: 38 vehicles seized in Prakasam

Prakasam district police conducted large-scale cordon-and-search operations under ‘Operation Vajra Prahar’ to curb crime, drug abuse and anti-social activities.

Acting on the directions of SP V. Harshavardhan Raju, special teams carried out searches in Santhanuthalapadu, Ulavapadu and Addanki areas. More than 120 police personnel, including DSPs, circle inspectors and sub-inspectors, participated in the drive.

Police searched houses and shops, focusing on the illegal storage and sale of ganja and other narcotic substances. During the operation, 38 vehicles without valid documents were seized and fingerprints of suspicious persons were verified.

Police also launched an awareness campaign against cricket betting and online gambling ahead of the IPL final. Residents were educated on drug abuse, cyber fraud, road safety and crimes against women, while taking a pledge to build a drug-free society.

Curbs on public gatherings in Tirupati till June 30

Tirupati district police have imposed restrictions under Section 30 of the Police Act, 1861, from June 1 to June 30, making prior written permission mandatory for rallies, processions, public meetings and other mass gatherings.

SP L. Subba Rayudu said the orders were issued to maintain public order, prevent untoward incidents and ensure smooth traffic movement, particularly in view of the large influx of devotees visiting Tirupati and Tirumala.

Individuals, political parties, organisations and associations must obtain prior permission from the concerned police station and the respective SDPO before conducting public programmes.

Police said simultaneous events at public places could cause inconvenience and lead to law and order issues. The restrictions will not apply to marriages, funerals and traditional family functions. Officials warned that legal action would be taken against violators.

Man beheads YSR statue in Nandyal, sparks tension

A shocking incident in Nandyal district triggered tension after an unidentified man allegedly beheaded a statue of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy at a prominent junction in the town on Sunday.

According to eyewitnesses, the accused, identified as Jamulayya, removed the head of the statue in broad daylight while onlookers watched in disbelief. The motive behind the act remains unclear, and police have launched an investigation to ascertain the reasons and background of the accused.

Meanwhile, YSRC leaders staged a peaceful protest rally in Nandyal on Sunday, condemning the act. They demanded the immediate arrest of the accused and strict legal action against him. Party leaders also urged the police to take preventive measures to ensure that such incidents do not recur in the future.

4 bodies recovered from Tungabhadra

Four bodies were recovered from the Tungabhadra River near Mantralayam in Kurnool district after five persons reportedly drowned while swimming in the river.

According to officials, the victims had come to Mantralayam on May 30 to attend a Satyanarayana Vratham at a relative’s residence. Later, they entered the river for a swim and were swept away by the strong currents.

The deceased were identified as Sandhya, 22, Satish, 35, Yavan Chandra, 5, and Dhanush, 23. Search operations are continuing to trace Raghavendra, 25, a resident of Mantralayam, who remains missing.

The bodies recovered from the river have been shifted to the government hospital for post-mortem examination. Tahsildar Ramadevi and Circle Inspector Dastagiri Babu are overseeing the search and rescue operations. The tragic incident has left the victims’ families and local residents in deep grief.