KURNOOL: A hired APSRTC bus got stolen from a bus depot in Nandikotkur of Kurnool district on Friday night and it came to light on Saturday, following a formal complaint lodged with Nandikotkur police.
At around 11:30 p.m. the bus was brought to the bus station and parked near the wall of the bus depot as usual. The bus driver locked it up and left. A few minutes later, staff at the depot noticed that the bus which was usually parked near the depot wall had vanished.
They called up the bus driver to enquire. He was shocked and said he had parked it the usual spot and went home. Nandikotkur police were immediately alerted.
It was later found to have been stolen by Srinivas (30), a habitual vehicle thief.
On enquiry, the police came to know that the bus was seen a few minutes after it was discovered missing, on Jupadu Bungalow route. Head constable K Venkataramana and few other constables chased after the bus. They caught up with the vehicle on the outskirts of Tangadacherla village.
When the head constable tried to stop the bus by placing his motorcycle in front of the bus, the accused Srinivas rammed the bus into the motorcycle. It fell into the nearby fields and the constable sustained injuries. After another two km, Srinivas abandoned the bus and fled into the village. Other police constables who chased him along with Venkataramana overpowered Srinivas with help of villagers and took him into custody.
The bus and the thief were then brought to Nandikotkur police station. A case has been registered and an investigation is on. The injured head constable was admitted to Kurnool Government General Hospital for treatment and later discharged.