Karimnagar: The historical Elagandal Fort and its surrounding places in Karimnagar district have become ‘safety lockers’ for criminals who use the fort area for their illegal activities. Police investigations of several robberies have led them to the fort area, where the robbed loot has been discovered in grooves under the gigantic rock formations.
The Elagandal Fort is situated on the banks of river Manair, 14 km from the Karimnagar headquarters on the Kamareddy Road. The fort is monumental in nature built in stone with a height of 200 feet on a hill in Elagandula village and is spread across an area of two miles.
The local police found that arrested notorious criminal Mohd. Ghani, 58, of Karimnagar town, who had been absconding for over 20 years, also used to hide his booty under the gigantic stones at the Elagandal Fort. Local police got to know that the notorious criminal visited the fort deep into the night and retrieved the gold and silver ornaments from his 'safety locker'. Once the gold and silver had been sold, the cash was also kept in these ‘lockers’.
Karimnagar police Commissioner V.B Kamalasan Reddy said Mohd Ghani used to hide the booty he had stolen in the Karimnagar city and its surrounding areas under the gigantic stones at the Elagandal fort as the stones give natural protection.
Mohd. Ghani was a resident of Pashamahal colony in Karimnagar city and he had a good idea of the topography of the Elagandal Fort area and was familiar with every nook and corner of the fort. It is said that Mohd Ghani chose the Elagandal Fort as a safe place for his robbed booty as people's movement was less in the fort area when compared to the other areas.
About the fort: Four major rulers ruled the area including Qutubshahi, Mughals, Nizams and Kakatiya. As part of a reorganization of districts, the Sixth Nizam shifted the district headquarters to Karim-nagar from Elagandal in 1905.
After climbing 250 steps through the three doors one reaches the top of the hill from where one can see the tanks, Narasimha Swamy temple, and other structures.
