Live Updates: Hyderabad, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh News Today 23 December 2021

The Kukatpally police on Thursday arrested three people for stealing laptops and mobile phones from several residences in Hyderabad. Seven laptops and a scooter were recovered from them. The arrested persons have been identified as Patil Shivaji (23), Boin Venkatesham (21) and A Govardhan Reddy (23). The police said that the accused went to houses around midnight for laptops and phones that were kept near the windows and stole it. Most of the laptops belong to youngsters who left the gadgets near the window after work. "The thieves used to look for the houses with windows open and steal the gadgets kept near the window," the police said. Later, the thieves used to sell the stolen gadgets and spent the money for their personal needs, the police added. Following complaints, the police kept a watch and caught the gang on Thursday. During the investigation, the thieves admitted to committing the crime. All of them were produced before the court and remanded.

As many as 15 people were injured after a TSRTC bus rammed into a lorry from rear end here at Jammapuram of Bhongir mandal on Thursday. The police said that the a two-wheeler rider fell on the road and the lorry driver who noticed the accident stopped the vehicle. Due to the sudden braking of the lorry, a TSRTC bus belonging to Warangal depot rammed into the lorry. The winshield of the bus was completely damaged in the mishap. Meanwhile, 15 of the total 65 passengers in the bus sustained injuries and were shifted to Bibinagar AIIMs and district government hospital. The bus conductor also suffered a hand fracture. The police registered a case and took up the investigation.

As part of his visit to Badvel in Kadapa district, CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy laid the foundation stone for several development projects worth Rs 9,556 crore. Meanwhile, YS Jagan, who laid the foundation stone for the Century Plyboards‌ industry in Badvel expressed happiness over setting up such a company in a backward area like Badvel. Sajjan Bhajanka, Chairman of Century Plyboards, said they want to set up this plant in Chennai first and opined that they are setting up in Badvel on the advice of CM Jagan. He said all the facilities are provided and they were impressed by the industrial policy here. He said the government had given quick approvals to provide infrastructure. On the occasion, CM Jagan said that he was happy to as Century Plyboards is being set up in Badvel. He said the government would extend full cooperation to the organization. Eucalyptus farmers are benefiting greatly from this plant and also employment opportunities are provided for local youth.

Lockdown in Telangana: A village in Rajanna Sircilla district imposed self-lockdown after a Dubai returnee tested positive for Omicron, a new variant of COVID-19. Officials said that his wife and mother was also tested positive for COVID-19 but it is yet to be learned if they are infected with Omicron. The samples were sent for genome sequencing for testing. The samples of the man was collected at at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) on his arrival and on Monday, he tested positive for Omicron and on the same day, he was sent to KIMS hospital in Hyderabad. On the other hand, the medical officials collected 64 samples from Gudem village and another 53 samples from Narayanpur of Yellareddypet mandal where the youth attended a marriage. Gudem village sarpanch said that all the shops, hotels and other businesses were closed for 10 days to contain the virus spread.

A dumper operator died in RG3 of OCP-1 of Singareni on Thursday morning after the dumper collided with another dumper. He was identified as Srinivas. The Singareni officials rushed to the spot after learning about the accident. The body was shifted for autopsy. A pall of gloom surrounded the family with the sudden death of Srinivas at work. On November 10, four workers of Singareni collieries died after the roof of mine collapsed while they were working at Srirampur in Mancherial district. The accident occurred when the workers were doing roof stitching work in the underground mine. The workers were trapped under the debris and lost their lives.

Following the controversy erupted at Ramatheertham temple while laying the foundation stone for the reconstruction of the temple, a case has been registered against former minister Ashok Gajapati Raju. EO DVV Prasad had complained to police against Ashok Gajapati Raju alleging of interfering into his duties during the laying of the foundation stone of the Ramatheertham temple. EO Prasad alleged in the complaint that he had acted improperly at the stone laying arrangements. Police have registered a case under sections 473 and 353 against Ashok Gajapati Raju and others. EO Prasad has also clarified that there was no breach of protocol against Ashok Gajapati who is the hereditary trustee of the temple.Read more