AP Police Book 1,549 Cases Over Social Media Misuse

Reviewing the surge in online offences, he noted the spread of derogatory content, misinformation, rumours and communally sensitive posts across platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Instagram. Police said 4,529 instances of unlawful content were taken down during the drive.

“To strengthen enforcement, a dedicated Social Media Monitoring Unit has been established, equipped with AI-based analysis, sentiment tracking, real-time surveillance, OSINT techniques, IP tracking, and digital forensics,” the DGP said.

He warned that misuse of social media would invite strict legal action. Cases are being booked under the Information Technology Act, 2000, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

Urging caution, the DGP asked citizens to verify information before sharing and avoid forwarding unverified content.

Five held for IPL betting in Chittoor

Five persons were arrested by Chittoor II town police for allegedly organising online and offline betting on Indian Premier League matches, while five others are absconding. The arrests were made as part of a special drive to curb betting activities in the district.
The arrested were identified as Vikram Reddy, 30, K. Vinod Kumar, 39, Rizwan, 34, Vamsi Krishna, 34 and Aneesh Ahmed, 30, all residents of Chittoor.
On Monday around 8.45 pm, the police received information about a group conducting online betting at an open space near the closed Shruti Milk Dairy along the Bengaluru–Chennai highway. On seeing the police, the suspects tried to flee, but five were apprehended. Police are searching for the absconding accused and warned against illegal betting.

Four held in ‘rice pulling’ cheating case

Four persons were arrested by Panjani police in Chittoor district for allegedly cheating a man on the pretext of “rice pulling”, while two others are absconding.
The arrested were identified as Krishnappa, Erukula Vijay Kumar, K.M. Munish and Shaik Iliyaz.
According to police, B. Shekhar, 60, a resident of Surankuttai village in Bargur taluk of Krishnagiri district in Tamil Nadu, lodged a complaint on Sunday night. He alleged that six persons claimed they could perform “rice pulling” using a special vessel and collected `1 lakh as advance. He later grew suspicious, following which the accused allegedly fled.
Based on the complaint, police registered a case and launched an investigation. The police collected technical evidence and initiated inquiries. Police apprehended four accused late on Monday near Kogileru Cross in Panjani mandal. Two others, Shankar and Nagaraju, are absconding. Efforts are on to trace them, police said.

Chain snatcher nabbed within hours

Hindupur Rural police in Satya Sai district nabbed a chain snatcher on Tuesday within hours of the incident. They recovered the ₹9 lakh worth of gold chain. Hindupur DSP K.V. Mahesh said G. Anil of Appalakunta in Hindupur Rural mandal turned into a thief after becoming addicted to liquor. He targeted a diabetic Susheela of Surya Coach Factory area in Kirikera village. Anil reached Susheela’s house, who had been sitting with bandages on her legs. He requested her for drinking water. Susheela expressed her inability and asked him to go inside the house and have water. While leaving, Anil pulled away Susheela’s gold chain from her neck and fled from the spot. Susheela’s husband lodged a complaint with Hindupur Rural police. Police registered a case, nabbed Anil, and recovered the gold chain worth ₹9 lakh from him. Police also seized his motorcycle. Police presented Anil before the Hindupur court, which has remanded him to judicial custody.

Three RGUKT Nuzvid faculty members suspended over harassment allegations

Director of Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies (RGUKT), Nuzvid campus, Dr Gopala Raju, has suspended three PUC faculty members on charges of allegedly harassing girl students.

Officials said prima facie information regarding the conduct of the three faculty members had come to the institution’s notice. The competent authority, in view of maintaining institutional integrity, placed them under suspension with immediate effect, pending a formal inquiry.

As a precautionary measure, their entry into the campus has been restricted until further orders.

According to sources, the faculty members allegedly sent inappropriate messages to some girl students. A complaint was reportedly submitted by a student to higher authorities, following which an inquiry was initiated. During preliminary verification, it was found that one faculty member had sent messages to a student about a year ago.

11-yr-old boy chained at madrasa, rescued

An 11-year-old boy has allegedly been subject to inhuman treatment by tying him up in chains at a madrasa in Banaganapalle town of Nandyal district. After the video of the chained boy struggling to walk went viral since Monday, Banaganapalle police, along with the District Child Protection Committee went to the madrasa and rescued the boy and handed him over to his mother on Tuesday. A case was filed against the madrasa and a probe into the incident has been initiated.

Banaganapalle sub-inspector Duggi Reddy said the child’s parents had separated recently. The three children are living with their mother in Idgah Nagar locality of the town. The mother enrolled the boy in a local madrasa, from where he allegedly attempted to escape.

Following this, the madrasa management reportedly chained his legs and attached the chains to a heavy object, restricting his movement.

Locals noticed the boy struggling to walk and questioned him. He broke down and said that he is being punished for insisting on going home. Police said investigating was underway.

Fire destroys 10 acres of maize crop

A fire accident destroyed nearly 10 acres of standing maize crop in Pamulapadu mandal, leaving farmers devastated.

The incident occurred near Kambalapalle village when a woman, identified as Chandrakala, allegedly set fire to dry stubble while collecting fallen maize cobs after harvest. Fanned by strong winds, the flames spread rapidly to adjacent fields.

Fire personnel rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control, preventing it from spreading further. However, the crop over about 10 acres was completely gutted by then.

Farmers said the loss was severe as the crop was ready for harvest, wiping out months of effort and investment.

One held with ganja, 2 on the run

Police arrested one person and seized 1.25 kg of ganja along with a two-wheeler under Two Town police limits in Kadapa on Tuesday.

The accused, identified as Shaik Ismail Basha, was caught near CS Function Hall while attempting to flee during vehicle checks. Police recovered the contraband from his scooter.

During interrogation, he confessed to procuring ganja along with Shaik Arafat, a rowdy-sheeter, and Shaik Mohammed Ali for sale in small packets. Police said the trio also allegedly planned to plant ganja in others’ houses to implicate them in false cases.

II Town CI Prasada Rao said the scooter used for transportation was seized. The two other accused are absconding, and special teams have been formed to trace them.

Man stabs brother to death over family feud

A long-standing family dispute turned fatal in Pragathi Nagar on Tuesday evening, where a 30-year-old man was allegedly murdered by his brother and an associate. The victim, Syed Rafi, was allegedly killed by his brother Syed Khaleel and Peddhi Rajesh Reddy following a heated altercation. According to police, the family had been witnessing frequent quarrels over the past three years, often aggravated by alcohol. The tension escalated during a recent family function when Rafi reportedly damaged a music system, triggering a dispute with Rajesh Reddy. On Tuesday around 4 p.m., the accused allegedly reached Rafi’s residence, dragged him outside and attacked him. Witnesses said Rajesh Reddy beat him with a stick while Khaleel restrained and stabbed him multiple times. Rafi died on the spot before medical help could arrive. Police have registered a murder case and launched a manhunt for the accused, who are absconding.

Man attacks wife with knife over marital dispute

A man attacked his wife with a knife at her workplace and injured another person who tried to intervene in Anantapur on Tuesday.

According to III Town Circle Inspector Rajendranath Yadav, the accused, Rajesh, a lorry driver from Rajiv Colony, had married Tejaswini following love affair about 14 years ago. The couple has two children. Tejaswini, who works at a local biryani centre. The couple had been facing marital disputes in recent times. Rajesh went to the workplace of his wife and picked up an argument and, in a fit of rage, attacked her with a sharp knife, causing serious injuries.

An onlooker, Lakshminarayana, who attempted to stop the assault, was also attacked and sustained minor injuries.

The biryani centre management alerted Three Town police, Blue Colts police who rushed to the spot and shifted both the injured to the Government General Hospital, where doctors said their condition is stable.

The accused has been taken into custody, and a case has been registered.

18 held with 15 kg of ganja, 110 litres of illicit liquor in Pulivendula

Kadapa police arrested 18 persons and seized 15 kg of ganja and 110 litres of illicit liquor in two separate cases in Pulivendula town.

Acting on specific inputs, a team led by CI Sriram nabbed 10 persons on Velamavaripalle road and seized 15 kg of ganja. The accused were allegedly preparing to transport and sell the contraband. Police said the prime accused, Gorla Bharat Yadav, had prior criminal record and developed contacts while he was jail and procured the ganja through associates and distributed it among the group for sale in Pulivendula.

In a parallel raid near Kadiri Ring Road, police arrested eight persons and seized 110 litres of illicit liquor (natu sara), allegedly meant for sale in the area.

Police said cases have been registered and the accused will be produced before the court. Further investigation is underway to trace larger networks.