KADAPA: Three constables of the Armed Reserve Police were on Sunday arrested for helping notorious gangster Sunil Kumar decamp, bringing to light the dark nexus between cops and criminals in Kadapa.
Following Kumar’s escape on Tuesday, three of his aides were arrested and firearms they allegedly took from the constables escorting him seized.
Kadapa DSP Sk Masum Basha said a police team led by CI Hema Sundara Rao arrested P Balakrishna, TP Gopal and C Srinivas and seized two rifles, 40 rounds of ammunition, a duster car, a motorcycle and seven mobile phones from them.
Kumar, who was produced before a Kurnool court in connection with a criminal case, managed to flee while being taken back to Kadapa Central Jail. It was suspected that the policemen escorting him helped him escape as they had diverted the car from the usual route and stopped at Pendlimarri. The DSP said it had been found during investigation that the accused cops took money from Sunil, but did not divulge the amount.
“We are still investigating. All the three constables — J Pedda Anwar, K Satyanarayana and E Bala Swamy — have been arrested and remanded in judicial custody,” he confirmed and added that departmental action would be initiated against the trio.
Basha, who heads the team on the look out for Kumar, said the rowdy would be arrested soon.
Kumar, an auto driver from Proddatur town, is accused in kidnap, extortion, robbery and murder cases.
In 2013, Kumar allegedly kidnapped medical shop owner Vasu Ram Prasad from Tadipatri. His lifeless body was found under Jaladurgam Police Station limits of Kurnool district later. Sunil who was in jail while the case was being investigated admitted to having murdered Prasad. He is accused in 19 cases.