Police uncover links between cattle theft gang and mobile phone racket, arrest nine suspects - The HinduUpdated - September 19, 2026 08:39 pm IST - HYDERABADHyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar presenting the accused before the media at TGICCC in Hyderabad on Saturday. | Photo Credit: SIDDHANT THAKURA gang allegedly involved in 13 cattle thefts across Telangana and another group targeting mobile phone shops were found to have overlapping members, with stolen phones eventually being routed through an alleged disposal network extending from Mumbai to Bangladesh.Nine persons connected to the offences were apprehended in a joint operation by the Commissioner’s Task Force, Jubilee Hills Zone, and Khammam police. Three others, including a Bangladesh national, are absconding.Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar said that they have linked the accused to 17 cases and seized 15 mobile phones, three cars, ₹22 lakh in cash and a number plate.The cattle-theft group allegedly operated across Nagarkurnool, Mahbubnagar and Nalgonda districts, including the Future City area. Md. Tabrez, 40, and Mohd. Rafeeq, 54, were allegedly involved in all 13 cases, while Mohammed Zubair Akthar, 30, and Mohammed Naveed, 24, participated in some of them.The gang allegedly targeted isolated cattle sheds late at night, particularly during Ramzan and Bakrid when demand was higher. “They administered Xylazine, a sedative, to make the cattle drowsy before loading them into vehicles. P. Sai Reddy, 35, who worked at a medical shop, allegedly supplied the injections,” said the commissioner.After Ramzan and Bakrid, Tabrez and Rafeeq allegedly shifted from cattle thefts to shutter-lifting thefts at mobile phone shops and joined hands with Mumbai-based Farahan Shaik, 37.Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar and other officials inspecting the seized mobile phones and other items at TGICCC in Hyderabad on Saturday. | Photo Credit: SIDDHANT THAKURAfter an unsuccessful attempt to break into a mobile phone store in Vijayawada, the trio allegedly targeted a shop in Khammam on June 11. The stolen phones were subsequently disposed of through Mumbai-based intermediaries for around ₹20 lakh, police said.In July, Tabrez and Rafeeq, along with another associate, allegedly committed two similar thefts at mobile phone shops in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. The group later conducted reconnaissance for another theft in Gujarat, but abandoned the attempt after noticing police patrols. They allegedly met with an accident while trying to evade the police and abandoned their vehicle, which was being used with a fake registration number.The investigation into the mobile phone thefts subsequently led police to an alleged disposal network in Mumbai. Mohd. Zahed Khan alias Raja Bhai, 34, allegedly procured stolen phones through intermediaries and routed them further.Police said the phones were packed into parcels and transported by road or bus towards Kolkata before being smuggled through unauthorised waterways into Bangladesh. Kasim, a native of Dhaka who is absconding, allegedly facilitated their movement into Bangladesh for a commission.Suspected hawala transactions connected to the network are also being verified, the officer said.Another absconding accused, Abu alias Afzal, allegedly arranged vehicles for the accused but did not participate in the thefts. He had allegedly come into contact with some of them while lodged in Chanchalguda Central Prison.Police said the accused were apprehended in Hyderabad on August 17 while allegedly planning another theft using a Volkswagen Vento.Published - September 19, 2026 07:13 pm ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }