{
  "id": 891268,
  "title": "8 members of motorcycle theft gang arrested, 13 stolen vehicles recovered in Markapuram district",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/8-members-of-motorcycle-theft-gang-arrested-13-stolen-vehicles",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-14T17:36:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/8-members-of-motorcycle-theft-gang-arrested-13-stolen-vehicles-recovered-in-markapuram-district/article71346651.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On August 14, 2026, local police in Markapuram district made an arrest in a motorcycle theft ring, seizing 13 stolen bikes worth around ₹17 lakh. The gang allegedly roamed across Cumbum, Bestavaripeta, Markapuram, Kavali Rural in Nellore district, Vetapalem in Bapatla district, and Kondandapuram in Jogulamba Gadwal district of Telangana, pilfering motorcycles from these areas. District SP V. Harshavardhan Raju issued directives after a spate of thefts in the region. Acting on his orders, a joint investigation team tracked down and detained eight members of the gang after they attempted to resell the hot-wired vehicles at a Y-junction in Cumbum village, having altered their number plates. The accused included Pasuleti Rasul, Battula Srihari, Battula Srinu, Anneboyina Akhil Kumar, Sriram Prasanna Kumar, and Dudekula Babu from Bestavaripeta, along with Juturi Emmanuel. The friends-turned-thieves reportedly turned to motorbike theft after succumbing to alcohol and other vices, and targeted parked bikes, disabling their locks, pushing the cycles a short distance, hot-wiring them, and riding away. They later hid the stolen vehicles in various areas including Bestavaripeta, Dattakonda, and Markapuram. The police investigation uncovered that a total of 13 motorcycles were stolen from these locations between February 4, 2026, and August 13, 2026.",
  "summary": "Eight members of a motorcycle theft gang have been arrested in Markapuram district, along with the recovery of 13 stolen vehicles, according to a report by The Hindu. The gang, comprising individuals from various districts in Andhra Pradesh, allegedly stole motorcycles from Cumbum, Bestavaripeta, Markapuram, Kavali Rural, Vetapalem, and Kondandapuram. The thefts occurred between February 4, 2026, and August 13, 2026, and the stolen bikes were reportedly sold after the number plates were altered. The police, acting on directives from Markapuram district SP V. Harshavardhan Raju, formed a joint team to apprehend the accused, who were identified as Pasuleti Rasul, Battula Srihari, Battula Srinu, Anneboyina Akhil Kumar, Sriram Prasanna Kumar, Dudekula Babu, and Juturi Emmanuel.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}