TIRUPATI: Gangs selling snake-shaped
bottle gourds
by trying to encash superstitious beliefs among the public are now on
police watchlist
in
Kurnool district
.
There is a popular myth that snake-shaped bottle gourds called "Naga Sorakaya" bring along a great fortune. It is because of this superstitious belief that many are prepared to shell out lakhs of rupees to possess one.
Taking advantage of this superstitious belief prevalent among the public, several gangs have been on the prowl to hoodwink the gullible and make some quick money.
One such gang of 21 persons associated with a local ashram were arrested by the Atmakur police recently.
The modus operandi of the gang was to target gullible devotees visiting the Srisailam temple.
''They would approach the devotees and convince them that
the Naga Sorakaya
which grows only in the
Nallamala
forests have special powers which will bring home prosperity and riches. The gang members then sell away the snake shaped bottle gourds anywhre between Rs.10-50 lakh per piece of vegetable", says Atmakur SI Nagendra
There are one or two persons who even purchased a Naga Sorakaya for Rs 1-2 crore from the gang.
Following the arrests of the 21 member gang associated with a local ashram, police are now trying to nab some others who managed to abscond.
Kurnool district police wing has appealed to the people of the district as well as devotees visiting Srisailam or other prominent places of worship in the district from the neighbouring states to not fall prey to such gangs on the prowl.
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