AP: Mystery behind missing double barrel gun from Anaparthi police station busted, 3 held

The mystery of missing gun at Anaparthi police station in Andhra Pradesh's East Godavari district was finally solved rather in an interesting way. Three youngsters who were held by police for violating COVID-19 norms hoodwinked policemen and escape with the gun. Four policemen were suspended for negligence after the gun owner filed a complaint with police.

Anaparthi (Andhra Pradesh):The mystery of missing gun from Anaparthi police station in Andhra Pradesh's East Godavari was finally busted on Wednesday. Three youngsters including a minor who were detained in the police station last October for violating the COVID-19 norms hoodwinked the policemen in the station and escaped with the gun which resulted in the suspension of four personnel. The main accused, who got acquainted with the country-made rifle of his grandfather, was lured by the double barrel gun lying in the police station and decided to steal it.

Addressing media persons, the police officers at the station said that licensed gun owners were instructed to handover the guns at local police stations in view of panchayat elections last year. The guns were collected at Anaparthi zone and were deposited in the armoury at Kakinada. After the elections, the guns were dispatched from Kakinada to be handed over to the respective owners. Among these guns, one was still kept at the police station which went missing all on a sudden from the police station.

At this time, three youngsters Sangadala Srinu, 32, Velugupudi Lowaraju, 32 and one more minor were detained by police on Oct. 5, 2020 after they were found loitering in Peera Ramachandrapuram area when the COVID-19 norms were strictly enforced. All three of them were brought to the police station for enquiry and were let off after investigation. In this short duration of time, Srinu noticed a double-barrel gun lying in the police station. Srinu was fascinated by the guns since his grandfather had a country-made rifle and decided to steal the gun, police said.

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When the police were not paying attention, they threw the gun out of the window from the lock-up. Once they were allowed to go, they returned back on a two-wheeler and picked up the gun they threw outside. Meanwhile, the owner of the gun, filed a police complaint after he was not handed over his licensed weapon. The complaint was pending in the police station.

Police officials said the investigation of the missing gun gained momentum after the new Superintendent of Police took charge. Four policemen who were in the station at that time were suspended for negligence. After the thorough investigation and sequencing of the events, suspicion fell on Srinu and his accomplices who were in the custody at that point of time. Srinu was picked for investigation and he revealed the entire incident. All three of them including the minor were detained by the police.

The accused were produced before the magistrate on Thursday, who remanded them into judicial custody, the police said.

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