Blade Batch strikes Vijayawada again? Lorry driver attacked with blades, robbed

Vijayawada: Is Vijayawada again under the threat of the 'Blade Batch' gang? It seems to be the case following an attack on a lorry driver near Gudavalli highway in Vijayawada Rural in Andhra Pradesh. Kaleem, a 42-year-old lorry driver from Atmakur village, had stopped his vehicle on the side of a road to rest when the blade gang ambushed him. They tried to take away his money and cell phones but he resisted. They injured him with a blade and stole Rs. 5,000 cash and a cell phone and ran away.

A motorist found Kaleem in critical condition and immediately called 108 ambulances. He was admitted to the hospital.

Who is the Blade Batch?

Blade Batch members carry blades and are reportedly addicted to drugs. They attack people in isolated places and snatch away cash and valuables from them. Blade Batch gangs used to attack passengers near railway stations when they were returning home, even during the daytime. They snatched gold chains and purses, stayed at isolated places on the roads, and attacked people.

Counseling

After a series of incidents in 2021 and 2022, the officers of the commissioner's taskforce (CTF) organised a counseling session in April 2022 for some suspected Blade Batch members in the north zone. Around 50 members, including their family members, were counseled and told not to indulge in anti-social activities. They were also told that the police will rehabilitate those willing to begin a new life.