The Jubilee Hills Police apprehended four women from the Pardhi community of Madhya Pradesh for their alleged involvement in a spate of sandalwood thefts across Jubilee Hills and Madhuranagar.

The arrested, including Palan Bai Pardhi, Shahnaj Bai, Nimat Bai, and Madhuri Adivasi, are part of what police described as a larger, organised syndicate of at least 23 members, many of whom are still absconding.

An officer from the Jubilee Hills police said that the gang had migrated to Hyderabad nearly three weeks ago, posing as travelling families selling brass. “This appearance was a deliberate cover to avoid suspicion while conducting thefts, especially from the National Institute for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises(NI-MSME) campus at Yousufguda and other green patches in the city,” said the officer.

The police operation revealed that women and children were involved to gain public trust and fly under the radar.

The wider network includes 19 others, all from different villages in Katni, Jabalpur, and Panna districts of Madhya Pradesh. Most of the men and several women are now on the run, including individuals identified as Deradur Pardhi, Sameer Pardhi, Dharm Pardhi, and others from the same tribal community.

According to the police, the gang used family units to transport stolen sandalwood discreetly to buyers and intermediaries, exploiting the trust of local auto drivers and residents. The thefts were executed in a highly targeted fashion, pointing to premeditated reconnaissance and a solid distribution channel.

The Jubilee Hills police are now on the lookout for the remaining absconding members.