Latest news with #Rachakonda
The Hindu
03-07-2025
- The Hindu
Two held with OG kush and ecstasy pills
Rachakonda's elite narcotics unit, EAGLE, on Wednesday busted an inter-State drug racket and arrested two men in possession of OG kush, a potent strain of cannabis, and ecstasy pills. The operation took place at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium parking area following a tip-off. The suspects, identified as Kamtam Mohith, 25, of Sindhi Colony, Secunderabad, and Swapnil Varthe, 26, of Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, were intercepted around 1.15 p.m. while exchanging a backpack containing the drugs. Police recovered 200 grams of OG kush and 32 ecstasy pills weighing 12 grams from their possession. The total worth of the seized contraband is estimated at ₹10.96 lakh. Investigators also seized three mobile phones and digital payment records showing transactions amounting to ₹1.16 lakh. Mohith told police he was introduced to synthetic drugs at a pub and began sourcing OG kush and ecstasy pills through contacts in Mumbai, receiving consignments via couriers and carriers. He had since built a local network of consumers. Swapnil confessed to delivering the drugs on behalf of an associate for a commission. He arrived in Hyderabad by bus and admitted to being in touch with Mohith and others involved in the supply chain. Both accused have been remanded to judicial custody. Officials said the crackdown is part of ongoing efforts to disrupt the flow of high-grade synthetic drugs.
The Hindu
28-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Translocation of colony trees draws controversy
Removal of trees from the margins of a colony road in the city has become controversial, when Forest Department officials issued permission for translocation of the trees from a different address than given in the application. According to the details available, all residents except one, along Road No. 4, Anand Nagar Colony, Bandlaguda of Nagole, decided to do away with the trees on the road margins, as the colony road had become narrow, denying manoeuvrability for four-wheelers. They felled a couple of trees a year ago, which was reported to Forest officials, who inspected the site and penalised the offenders. After learning the proper procedure from the foresters, a resident, K. Suresh Babu, later approached the Forest Department seeking permission to fell the remaining six trees — Jamun, Guava, Tella Maddi, two Seetaphal, and a Moduga, giving his address as the location. The resident approached the Urban Biodiversity wing of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) too, for a 'No Objection Certificate' (NOC). This was the twist. The applicant had no trees lining his house. The pictures of the trees lining the opposite house were given with the geo-coordinates of Mr. Suresh Babu's house, as alleged by the owner of the opposite house, Rahul Rachakonda. 'I wanted to retain the trees, because they once protected us from an uprooted electrical pole. I fought tooth and nail for them. I made 15 representations to the Forest department and GHMC not to allow felling of the trees, but to no avail,' Mr. Rachakonda said. On Saturday, the trees except Tella Maddi were uprooted by labourers in an unscientific manner, and carried away. Interestingly, the NOC from the Urban Biodiversity wing of Hayatnagar circle says that the trees at the applicant's address 'may be translocated by the owner of the tree in his own premises'. As it transpired, neither Mr. Suresh Babu nor Mr. Rachakonda was the 'owner' of the trees, nor were the trees at the given address, nor have they been translocated inside the owner's premises. 'They tried to convince me to allow the trees to be translocated into my premises as mandated in the permission, but I put my foot down and said they should be retained where they were,' Mr. Rachakonda said. Upon seeking clarification, FRO, Uppal, K. Sharat Chandra Reddy said that majority of the residents wanted the trees to go as the road was narrow, and hence permission was given. He said the trees were translocated to the road margins at a different location. However, the Forest permission says that they should be moved to 'Residential' premises at the given address only. The road width was shown as 25 feet in the colony layout, but only about 18 feet remains after the residents, including the applicant, built ramps extending onto the road. 'This is the most bizarre way to get rid of trees. Some person applies for permissions to remove trees from another person's home!!! and all concerned departments will see the other way till the trees are removed [sic]' read a post by Vata Foundation, which brought the incident to light.
Canada News.Net
27-06-2025
- Canada News.Net
Telangana: One person arrested in Hyderabad for smuggling elephant ivories
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], June 25 (ANI): The sleuths of Special Operations Team, Rachakonda along with Forest Range Officials Ranga Reddy district apprehended one accused who was trying to sell the Elephant Ivories (tusks) illegally and seized two elephant ivories and one mobile phone from his possession, Commissioner of police Rachakonda said. The accused person has been identified as Rekulakunta Prasad (32 years), a resident of Annamaiah, Andhra Pradesh. Rachakonda Commissioner of Police Sudheer Babu said, 'The Task Force and forest officials apprehended a state gang who were transporting elephant ivory weighing 6.52 kg worth around Rs 3 crores in the international market... The accused were jailed previously, too. They came to Hyderabad to sell it. They are accused under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.' He further said that the accused person, Rekulakunta Prasad, is a resident of Rayachoti, Andhra Pradesh and habituated to bad vices, used to earning easy money by doing illegal activities. 'Previously, he was involved in a Red Sanders logs smuggling case by RSASTF (Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force) PS, Tirupathi Dist. (A.P) and was lodged in Thirupathi sub-Jail in the month of February 2025. Another accused, Lokeshwar Reddy was also arrested in the Red Sanders logs smuggling case by the above Task Force police and lodged in the same Jail, where both of them became acquainted during their stay in Jail,' he said. 'After being released from jail, both the accused persons hatched a plan to sell Elephant ivory for wrongful and huge profits. As per their plan Lokeshwar Reddy went to Sheshachalam Forest of Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh and procured two Elephant Ivories from Yanadula Tribals. After getting the Elephant Ivories, he informed the same to Prasad to sell at Hyderabad for excessive amount. Accordingly, they both boarded a private travel bus along with illegally gained Elephant Ivories and on Wednesday morning hours, reached LB Nagar, Hyderabad to sell the above two Elephant Ivories to prospective buyers,' he said. Sudheer Babu said that on the tip of information, SOT LB Nagar team along with Hayath Nagar Forest officials apprehended accused Rekulakunta Prasad and seized two numbers of Elephant Ivories and other incriminating material from his possession. 'Another accused Lokeshwar Reddy fled away from the spot. Efforts are underway to trace and apprehend the absconding accused Lokeshwar Reddy. The past criminal history of the arrested individual is also being verified,' he said. The proactive efforts of the Team of SOT LB Nagar Zone and Hayath Nagar Forest officials led to the successful interception of this smuggling racket, highlighting their continued commitment to combat smuggling activities and ensuring to protect the life of animals which are endangered species, as the Rachakonda police are keep vigil in all the aspects and criminals to curtail illegal activities. The above arrests were made under the direct supervision of G. Sudheer Babu, IPS., Commissioner of Police, Rachakonda and under the guidance of Md. Shakir Hussain, Addl. DCP, SOT, LB Nagar-Maheshwaram & Sai Prakash, Forest Range Officer, Hayath Nagar, Ranga Reddy dist. (ANI)
The Hindu
25-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
No delays, no excuses: Telangana begins deportation of 33 Pakistani nationals
The Telangana police have begun the process of deportation of 33 Pakistani nationals in the State, following directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued on April 24 in the wake of the Pahalgam terror strike. On Friday (25 April 2025), Telangana Director General of Police Jitender issued an advisory implementing the Centre's order. Under this order, all regular visas issued to Pakistani citizens will be cancelled from April 27. Medical visas are an exception, remaining valid until April 29, while holders of Long-Term Visas (LTVs), diplomatic and official visas are excluded from the suspension. According to the official data, 232 Pakistani nationals are in Telangana with different visas. Of these, 33 are on regular visas and will be required to leave the country. The remaining 199, who possess LTVs, are not affected by the new directive. 'Leave India' notices will be served to those whose visas are being cancelled. 'Hyderabad accounts for four of them, born in 1985, 2010, 1991 and 2023. All are under active surveillance. There will be no delays or excuses,' Chaitanya Kumar, DCP of Hyderabad Special Branch (SB) said. In the Rachakonda Commissionerate limits, three Pakistani nationals currently hold valid Indian visas. 'Two of them have valid LTVs, while the third is a woman whose case is pending due to a court stay. She married a man in Saudi Arabia in 2011 and later applied for an LTV,' informed P. Karunakar, DCP SB Rachakonda. Meanwhile, the State police have also sought clarification from the MHA on a few special cases, including that of an Indian woman who, following her divorce from a Pakistani national, returned to India with their child. 'According to existing orders, the child, a Pakistani national, must be repatriated, although the mother is permitted to stay,' B. Sai Sri, Additional DCP Cyberabad SB confirmed. A 'Leave India' notice, issued under the Foreigners Act, 1946, requires foreign nationals to exit the country within a stipulated timeframe, often for visa violations or security concerns. 'The individuals concerned have already been under close surveillance. We have their photographs, addresses and documents on file, and monitoring has been continuous,' officer Sai Sri said. The Attari border in Punjab has been designated as the primary land route for their exit, with the deadline set for April 30. 'Those opting to return by air must depart from Delhi or Mumbai through foreign carriers to Pakistan. Hyderabad is not recognised as a port of exit for Pakistani nationals. Travellers leaving from Hyderabad must first transit through Saudi Arabia or Dubai before reaching Pakistan,' she explained. Officials from the tri-commissionerates said that all necessary arrangements are in place to ensure the deportations proceed smoothly. 'Individuals must report to the Special Branch, where an MHA form will be generated, their documents including tickets and identity verified, and immigration authorities will be notified about their scheduled departure. Although formal security guidelines are yet to be issued for Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), police officials confirmed they will work closely with immigration authorities to ensure a smooth transit process. The officials said most of those facing deportation had entered India to visit relatives or for pilgrimage, particularly to religious sites in Pahadishareef and Maula Ali in Hyderabad. Student visa holders are not affected by the suspension. The Telangana police said surveillance measures will remain in force until each individual has exited the country.
