Hyderabad: Nine people, including three engineers and four technicians working in a telecom company’s tower operations, allegedly formed a gang and stole expensive Radio Remote Units (RRUs) from mobile towers operated by the company across Telangana. The gang, which also included a driver and a former employee, was involved in 38 thefts, causing losses estimated at ₹1.62 crore, police said.Nalgonda CCS police arrested all nine accused and seized three cars, two motorcycles worth around ₹25 lakh, ₹15 lakh in cash, and eight mobile phones from them. The arrests followed an investigation into a series of RRU thefts reported from different parts of Nalgonda district.According to Nalgonda SP Sharath Chandra Pawar, the gang comprised three engineers, four riggers (technicians), a driver working in the company’s tower operations, and a former employee. Investigators initially suspected outsiders to be behind the thefts. However, the probe revealed that people familiar with the company’s operations and tower locations were involved. They allegedly misused their technical knowledge and access to carry out the thefts.“The investigation began after complaints were lodged by Mohammed Yousuf Pasha, a mobile security patrol guard working for S&IB Security, regarding the theft of RRUs from two mobile towers. The thefts were reported on Sept 21 and Nov 11 at towers in Kamarreddy village under Tripuraram police station limits and Melladuppalapally village under Nalgonda Rural police station limits. Cases were registered under Section 303(2) of the BNS at both police stations. Two special teams were formed and conducted investigations at various locations across the state, using technical evidence to track the suspects,” the SP said.The first breakthrough came on Saturday when Nalgonda rural police stopped two cars and a motorcycle near a tamarind tree on the outskirts of Gigirakalabavigudem during vehicle checks at around 1 pm. Five men travelling in the vehicles were questioned. One of them, identified as Bhukya Balu, reportedly told police that they were on their way to Kanchanapally village to steal RRUs.Around the same time, Tripuraram police intercepted another group travelling in a car and two motorcycles near Baba Saipet. Four men were detained, including Ramavath Suman, a former employee with a criminal record. During questioning, police said the accused revealed details of several previous RRU thefts.The nine arrested were identified as Nakkirekanti Swarna Kumar (32), a site engineer from Damarcherla; Bhukya Balu (33), a site engineer from Nalgonda; Srikanth Reddy (35), an engineer from Kodad; Ramavath Suman, a former employee; Lakavath Ramulu (52), a former rigger; Jakkala Nithish Kumar (24), a car driver working in tower operations in Nalgonda; Pentamalla Mahesh (24), a rigger; Bhimanapalli Ravi (34), a cell tower technician from Miryalaguda; and Angothu Tirupathi (39), a network rigger.Police said the accused wanted to make quick money to fund a lavish lifestyle. They allegedly targeted mobile towers in areas they were familiar with, travelled to the locations at night and removed the expensive RRUs after cutting the connecting wires. The stolen equipment was then sold in Hyderabad. The proceeds were allegedly used to buy cars and motorcycles and meet personal expenses.During interrogation, the gang’s involvement in 38 theft cases came to light. Of these, nine were reported in Nalgonda, 16 in Miryalaguda, two in Devarakonda, eight in Suryapet and three in other districts. Further investigation is underway.
