Nellore Police Earn a Grade, Report Drop in Crime

Nellore: SPSR Nellore district police have secured an 'A' grade with 82 marks in the state's half-yearly performance review for January-June 2026, with superintendent of police Dr Ajitha Vejendla attributing the achievement to improved crime control, efficient investigation and proactive policing.

The district was evaluated on 18 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) covering policing, crime prevention, investigation and public service.

Addressing the media on Wednesday, the SP said the district recorded a significant decline in major crimes, including robbery-cum-murder, robberies, night burglaries, thefts, kidnappings and road accidents, compared to the corresponding period last year. She said prompt investigation and the swift arrest of offenders had contributed to the improved crime rate.

As part of action against habitual and organised offenders, police invoked the Preventive Detention (PD) Act against 37 persons, the PIT-NDPS Act against 10 drug offenders, opened 76 Sexual Offender Sheets (SOS) and initiated externment proceedings against identified criminals.

To improve road safety, police intensified enforcement through e-challans, drunken-driving checks and action against open drinking, resulting in better compliance with traffic rules.

Highlighting measures for women's safety, Dr Vejendla said the district's seven Shakti Teams conducted 4,550 awareness programmes in schools, colleges and public places. She added that Nellore continues to rank first in the state in Shakti App downloads.

The SP said the district has also strengthened smart policing by improving Dial-112 response times, regularly updating CCTNS data, implementing e-Sakshya, speeding up disposal of Citizen Portal complaints, expanding the CCTV-360 network and enhancing surveillance through drones, including night-vision drones, across rural and urban areas.

She said effective investigation and quality presentation of evidence resulted in convictions in 17 major cases, including murder, rape, POCSO and attempt-to-murder cases, during the first six months of the year.

Police also conducted 153 cordon-and-search operations to curb anti-social activities and ganja trafficking. In Nellore city, seven Special Task Force (STF) teams carry out nightly patrols, while similar operations continue in Kavali, Gudur and Atmakur, contributing to crime prevention.

Dr Vejendla said the district police remain committed to making SPSR Nellore a safer district through effective policing and public cooperation.

Additional SP (Admin) Ch. Soujanya, Town ASP Deeksha, Nellore Rural DSP Ghattamaneni Srinivasa Rao, SB-1 DSP Dasaradha Rama Rao, DCRB In-charge CI Papa Rao and other police personnel attended the press conference at the District Police Office.

Man attempts suicide outside women police station

A man allegedly attempted suicide outside the Women Police Station in Kurnool on Wednesday, shocking onlookers and police personnel.

According to police, Vasanth and his wife Bhagyalakshmi had visited the police station in connection with a marital dispute. Bhagyalakshmi had reportedly sent him divorce notices, while Vasanth was seeking reconciliation. However, she refused to resume the relationship.

Police said Vasanth, distressed over her decision, attempted suicide outside the police station. He was immediately shifted to the Government General Hospital in Kurnool for treatment.

Officials said Vasanth was deeply upset after his wife declined to live with him, prompting the extreme step.

Police have registered a case and are investigating.

Man gets two-year jail term for bid to murder mother-in-law

A local court in Kadapa has sentenced a 43-year-old man to two years' imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹30,000 for attempting to murder his mother-in-law in 2023.

According to police, the accused, Dadireddy Srinivasulu Reddy, a native of Koppolu village in YSR Kadapa district, attacked his mother-in-law, Gali Ramadevi, at her residence in Chinnachowk on March 25, 2023.

Police said the attack followed a marital dispute between the accused and his wife, who had been living with her mother. Srinivasulu Reddy allegedly entered the house armed with a knife and an axe and attacked Ramadevi with the intention of killing her, causing multiple injuries.

She was shifted to RIMS Hospital for treatment.

After the investigation and trial, Additional Senior Civil Judge G.C. Asifa Sultana found the accused guilty and sentenced him to two years' imprisonment besides imposing a fine of ₹30,000.

The prosecution was represented by Additional Public Prosecutor B. Srinivasulu.

ATM card swindler arrested in Proddatur

A 34-year-old man was arrested by Proddatur I Town police for allegedly duping ATM users by swapping their debit cards and withdrawing money from their accounts.

The accused, Dandanagari Siddesh alias Siddu, a resident of Krishnapuram village in Kurnool district, allegedly targeted elderly and illiterate customers at ATM kiosks on Gandhi Road, including the State Bank of India main branch.

According to police, Siddesh posed as a helpful customer, assisted victims in withdrawing cash, secretly noted their PINs and replaced their ATM cards with fake ones. He later used the genuine cards to withdraw money.

The case was registered as Crime No. 140/2026 under Sections 303(2), 318(4) and 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on a complaint lodged by Dinnepati Narayana (84), a retired teacher.

Police apprehended the accused near Vasavi Circle on July 15 while he was allegedly preparing to commit another offence. They seized ₹50,000 in cash, a mobile phone and six fake ATM cards from his possession.

Further investigation is under way.

Temple hundi theft gang busted in Anantapur

Uravakonda police on Wednesday arrested three members of a gang allegedly involved in a series of temple hundi thefts in Anantapur district and recovered ₹20,600 in cash, four CCTV cameras, a hundi and the autorickshaw used in the offences.

According to police, Thotakura Gujjala Vishwateja, Talari Vamsi Krishna and Boya Mahesh, all residents of Guntakal, formed the gang.

Police said the trio broke into the Sri Udbhava Mahalakshmi Temple at Penna Ahobilam in Uravakonda mandal on July 8, broke open the hundi and stole the cash. They also allegedly removed and stole four CCTV cameras installed at the temple to destroy evidence.

The accused later targeted the Sri Anjaneyaswamy Temple at Konakondla village in Vajrakarur mandal on the night of July 12 and allegedly stole the hundi.

A police team led by Uravakonda Circle Inspector B. Mahanandi and Sub-Inspector P. Janardhan Naidu intercepted the accused near an SV godown in Vajrakarur mandal on Wednesday and arrested them.

Police recovered ₹20,600 in cash, the four CCTV cameras stolen from the Penna Ahobilam temple, the hundi belonging to the Sri Anjaneyaswamy Temple and the autorickshaw allegedly used in the thefts.

Further investigation is under way.