Sircilla police arrest four members of an extortion gang

Sircilla police arrested four members of an extortion gang, recovering a 9 mm pistol and five rounds. The gang, with links to Janashakthi, extorted using the banned organization's name

RAJANNA-SIRCILLA: Sircilla police arrested four members of an extortion gang and recovered a 9 mm pistol along with five rounds.Producing the accused before the media on Wednesday, Superintendent of Police Mahesh B Gite explained the modus operandi of the gang.

The accused were identified as Thokala Srikanth of Ramannapalli, Dasari Thirupati of Sarmpalli in Thangallapalli mandal, Vanjari Surender of Kummaripalle in Velgtur mandal of Jagtial district, and Payyavula Govardhan of Peddalingapur in Ellanthakunta mandal.

---

Police said Srikanth and Govardhan had earlier links with the banned extremist organisation Janashakthi.

Apart from involving themselves in land disputes, the gang members began extortion by invoking the name of the banned organisation, the SP said.

Based on reliable information, police conducted vehicle checking on the outskirts of Thangallapalli on Wednesday and noticed four persons moving under suspicious circumstances in a vehicle. During the search, a 9 mm pistol and five rounds were recovered from their possession.

On questioning, the accused reportedly confessed to their involvement in extortion activities. They were immediately taken into custody and a case was registered, following which further investigation was taken up.