Burglar Arrested In Pahadishareef, Booty Recovered

Hyderabad:The Pahadishareef police arrested a habitual offender involved in several house break-ins across Rachakonda and Cyberabad commissionerates, on Thursday. Police seized 13 tolas of gold, 41 tolas of silver ornaments, Rs 50,000 cash and two bikes worth Rs 20 lakh.

The accused has been identified as Allam Shiva, 27, a native of Mahbubnagar. He was apprehended at Shalibanda while attempting to sell the stolen property.

Speaking at a press meet on Thursday, Rachakonda commissioner of police, G. Sudheer Babu said that Shiva confessed to seven burglaries reported in Pahadishareef, Shamshabad, Hayathnagar and LB Nagar police station limits.

This arrest took place after a complaint by a farmer from Harshaguda, about an alleged robbery on May 23.

Disclosing further, the commissioner said that Shiva, addicted to ganja, alcohol and online betting, had previously been jailed for nine theft cases. After being released in October 2024, he resumed criminal activity to cope with his lifestyle.

“In the recent burglary committed in Harshaguda, he entered into a house by tracing the keys hidden in a gate pillar by the family, stole cash and ornaments and escaped on his bike,” the commissioner added.

Hyd cops launch zonal cyber cells to bolster cybercrime response

Hyderabad:In a major step toward strengthening the city’s fight against cybercrime, Hyderabad Police Commissioner C.V. Anand officially launched Zonal Cyber Cells (ZCCs) across all seven zones of the city on Thursday. This strategic move aims to provide swift, localised, and effective responses to the growing threat of cybercrime. The launch comes amid a sharp rise in cyber-related offenses, both in terms of numbers and complexity.

Highlighting the urgency of the initiative, Commissioner Anand noted that cybercrime cases in Hyderabad more than doubled from 1,393 in 2019 to 2,550 in 2020, a surge largely attributed to increased online activity during the pandemic. Over the last nine years, from 2015 to 2024, cybercrime has seen a staggering 786% rise, underscoring the need for robust and decentralized mechanisms to address the issue.

“The rise in cases also reflects improved awareness among citizens, as more victims are coming forward to report incidents,” Anand said. “The establishment of ZCCs is a crucial step in enhancing our ability to tackle cyber offenses more efficiently and effectively.”

Each Zonal Cyber Cell will function under the supervision of the respective Zonal Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) and will focus on faster registration, investigation, detection, and resolution of cybercrime cases — particularly those involving financial fraud and social media-related offenses. These cells are also tasked with facilitating the refund process for victims of cyber fraud. Additionally, ZCCs will play a pivotal role in raising public awareness about cyber safety and promoting preventive measures. They will collaborate closely with the Cyber Crimes Police Station (CCPS) to leverage technical expertise and enhance investigative capabilities. With this initiative, Hyderabad Police aim to create a proactive, tech-enabled, and citizen-centric framework to respond to the rising tide of cyber threats, ensuring better protection for the city’s residents in the digital age.

DGP appeals for online deposition in German tourist case

Hyderabad:After filing a chargesheet against a cab driver for allegedly raping a 25-year-old German tourist in Mamidipally, Pahadishareef, Telangana DGP Jitender has written to the principal home secretary seeking approval for the survivor to depose online once the trial begins, to spare her the trouble of returning to Hyderabad.

The incident took place on March 31, when the tourist, who was visiting the city on holiday, was allegedly sexually assaulted in a secluded area by the driver, identified as Aslam, a resident of Yakutpura. The survivor managed to escape by jumping out of the vehicle and informed her friend, who was also in the city. They lodged a complaint with the Pahadishareef police, who arrested the accused within four hours and registered a case under Section 64(1) of the BNS.

Confirming the development, Maheshwaram DCP Sunitha Reddy told Deccan Chronicle that a chargesheet has been filed. “We have appealed to the principal home secretary to facilitate the survivor’s testimony via video conferencing. We have also requested that the case be transferred to a fast-track court to ensure swift conviction,” she said.

Indian courts have previously allowed remote testimonies in sexual assault cases involving foreign nationals. In 2023, the Delhi High Court upheld the testimony of a US citizen, a gangrape survivor, via two-way video conferencing, stating it would prevent retraumatisation and did not infringe on the accused’s right to a fair trial.

Bizman loses Rs 2.6L to fraudster

Hyderabad:A young businessman from Hyderabad lost `2,69,530 to a fraudster online, who posed as a wholesale dealer. The fraudster called the victim and claimed he had been dealing with return stocks of e-commerce companies and selling products at wholesale prices. Though not convinced in the beginning, the victim agreed to business after the caller sent him copies of his Aadhaar card, voter ID and PAN card.

The businessman placed an order of 750 school bags, 25 mist fans and 60 fans and paid an advance of `18,000. The caller, in turn, replied that he booked the delivery through Maa Vaishno Travels and the products would be delivered in five days. In between, he made more transactions in the middle of May. However, when the delivery was delayed, the caller informed that the stock was stuck at Warangal.

Upon this, the victim got suspicious and asked for a refund. To this, the caller replied he would deliver the stock by the end of May. Meanwhile, the victim contacted the transport company and released that it was a scam. The caller again called the victim, informing that he would deliver the stock, however, he blocked the latter’s number.

The cybercrime wing registered a case and an investigation is on.

Auto driver dies by suicide

Hyderabad:A 28-year-old autorickshaw driver allegedly died by suicide outside Lotus Pond in Film Nagar, on Wednesday. According to SI Srikanth Reddy, the deceased, Shadif, was a resident of Tolichowki.

He reportedly had frequent fights with his wife. His financial condition was also poor, the SI said.

At 11 am on Wednesday, Shadif left home. After sometime, locals informed his wife of the death.

A case was registered and further investigation is on. Shadif's body was shifted to the Osmania mortuary for post-mortem examination, and later handed over to his family.