04 October,2023 08:42 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
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The Government Railway Police (GRP) in Mumbai have successfully dismantled two criminal gangs originating from West Bengal, both involved in a series of chain snatchings targeting suburban train commuters. Eight individuals have been apprehended in connection with these crimes, according to a GRP official's statement on Wednesday.
During the course of the investigation, the police managed to recover gold chains valued at Rs 5.19 lakh, which had been stolen by members of these gangs.
Operating in groups of four, the modus operandi of these gangs involved identifying a victim and then creating a disturbance or pretext to engage with them as they boarded a train. In the ensuing chaos, one gang member would swiftly snatch the victim's chain, making a quick getaway.
The unravelling of these criminal activities began with a passenger reporting a chain-snatching incident at Wadala GRP. The victim detailed how four individuals robbed his chain worth Rs 80,000 while he was boarding a train at Kurla station.
Using CCTV footage and technical evidence, the GRP successfully tracked down and apprehended four suspects in the Tilak Nagar area of Mumbai. Interrogation of these individuals led to the discovery of another active gang in Mumbai, also specializing in targeting suburban railway commuters.
Further police action resulted in the arrest of four members of the second gang. Both gangs have been identified as originating from West Bengal, casting a spotlight on the inter-state nature of such criminal operations.
Police Inspector Arssuddin Sheikh disclosed, "We have recovered gold chains worth Rs 5.19 lakh from their possession and have identified seven cases in which they were involved."
A case has been registered against the arrested individuals under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 392 (punishment for robbery). Investigations are currently ongoing to gather more evidence and build a comprehensive case against those involved in these chain-snatching incidents.
Recently, in another case, the Mumbai city police arrested a drug supplier in Andheri with a substantial haul of 5.25 kilograms of charas, valued at approximately Rs1.57 crore. An official from the Anti Narcotics Cell (ANC) said they conducted a raid on Monday based on a tip-off and successfully arrested the supplier. An FIR has been filed against the individual under the relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
