As many as 56 people with most of them having criminal antecedents, including several women, were taken into custody by police in a search and cordon operation here.
Sleuths of different wings of Hyderabad Police Commissionerate carried out the massive search and cordon operation in Mallepally area here since late last night till early hours today, police said.
"Police seized gold, cash among other things from criminals and suspects, while those held in connection with the murder cases are being interrogated," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (West Zone) V Satyanarayana, who supervised the operation carried out by nearly 350 personnel, including officers and women personnel.
"Surprise raids were conducted at houses in Mangarbasti of Mallepally with the help of Google Maps. Of late, criminals wanted in snatching, attention diversion, thefts, vehicle lifting had created a panic atmosphere and had made these localities their shelter points," the DCP said.
After verifying criminal records and call data record monitoring, the police got inputs that members of different gangs, including women, involved in different offences were hiding in these localities, he said.
Police personnel attached to wings of law and order, special branch, task force, central crime station of Hyderabad Police formed 35 teams and participated in the raids, he said.
Though police faced a stiff resistance during the cordon and searches, they succeeded in nabbing 53 criminals, including 14 women, besides three persons allegedly involved in two murder cases, according to the DCP.
The motive of the search and cordon operation was to catch the offenders of property and other crimes and prevention and detection of crime and also to keep a watch on anti-social elements, Satyanarayana said.
"After collecting intelligence against the criminals, we carried out the operation. Our target is only criminals. This operation is for safety of common people and as part of friendly policing," he added.
