The railway police have the onerous job of being on the lookout for one of their former colleagues. He worked with them to catch thieves, but somewhere along the line he lost his way and reportedly turned into a criminal himself.
The Vijayawada Government Railway Police (GRP) seemed to be preoccupied with this difficult task currently.
The GRP has recently issued a “lookout notice” for former constable Chinta Srinivas Rao, who is wanted in a few robbery cases in Guntur, and Krishna districts. He was suspended just months ago.
The railway police have already alerted the public with look-out notices of Srinivas, and the details of the informants, they said, would be kept secret. “Suitable reward will be given to the persons who provide information of the accused,” said the police.
According to the police, Srinivasa Rao was appointed Civil constable on August 2, 1990. He was deputed to railways where he worked as constable in Guntur and West Godavari districts. Rao was absent from duties since May 27, 2007 and the police officials dismissed him from service in November, 2011.
Modus operandi
The accused made friends with anti-social elements and allegedly got actively involved in committing offences on running trains. The offenders who were arrested by the police confirmed the role of Srinivasa Rao in some cases, said the railway police.
Vijayawada GRP Superintendent of Police M. Kantha Rao said the modus operandi of the dismissed constable was to do ‘recci' in trains while on duty during nights. Later, he would meet his accomplices and guide them in committing thefts.
“Srinivasa Rao used to give tips about the trains, bogies that are convenient for carrying out thefts and snatchings and how to escape safely without encountering the police”, said the SP.
During interrogation, the accused revealed that the dismissed railway cop used to befriend chain-snatchers in Guntur, Eluru and West Godavari stations. He used to arrange bail for the arrested and help them.
Later he used to take his share from the booty, said Mr. Kantha Rao.
“Recently, we arrested four thieves who confessed that their gang leader was Srinivasa Rao.
The accused was wanted in five thefts under Guntur, Ponnur and Vijayawada railway police stations and warrants have been pending against him since a year”, said the SP.
