Bowenpally Police bust inter-state attention diversion gang; phones worth Rs 25 lakh recovered

Hyderabad: Bowenpally Police have arrested three members of an inter-state attention diversion gang and recovered as many as 77 stolen Android mobile phones and two two-wheelers, with a total value of approximately Rs 25 lakh.

The main accused was identified as Ganta Chinna (40), an auto driver from Dilsukhnagar, native of Jajpur District, Odisha.

The other accused were identified as Pradhan Srikanth (22), labourer from Mallapur, originally from Dasamania Village, Odisha; Avula Gopi Rao (20), labourer, also from Mallapur, native of Kantira Village, Odisha and Jagir, alleged receiver of stolen goods. He is the fourth accused and is currently absconding.

Case began following Uppal resident’s complaint

The arrests followed a complaint filed on June 13 by a city resident, Kola Raja Narsimha of Uppal, who reported that his mobile phone was stolen in a distraction tactic at the Tadbund signal on June 5. While attempting to help an individual pretending to be injured near a motorcycle, the victim’s phone, a Realme C53, was stealthily stolen.

Investigators from Bowenpally Police Station reviewed over 250 CCTV camera feeds across the area. Their vigilance paid off on June 16, when they intercepted three suspects during a vehicle check at Tadbund Chowrasta.

The trio was found with two motorcycles without number plates and, upon interrogation, confessed to multiple thefts. A total of 77 stolen mobile phones and two bikes were recovered from their possession.

The gang has been linked to at least 11 cases registered across Hyderabad and Cyberabad, including four at Bowenpally PS (Crime Nos. 265-268/2025) and others in Miyapur, Attapur, Medchal, Bachupally, Chandanagar and Narsingi.

Modus operandi

The gang employed a common attention-diversion strategy: one member pretended to be injured or in distress while the others used the distraction to snatch valuables from passersby. They would then escape on motorcycles, said P. Gopala Krishna Murthy, assistant commissioner of police, Begumpet Division, North Zone, Hyderabad City.

A case has been registered.