Back-to-back snatchings send shock waves in city

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 18

A CCTV footage of snatchers targeting a woman having a baby in her lap in the posh Green Avenue has sent shock waves across the city. The footage that went viral on social media yesterday shows two unidentified persons dragging the woman and her baby for some distance before fleeing with her purse. A police complaint has been lodged in connection with the incident that took place on Tuesday in the holy city.

The victim, identified as Garima Mehra, has sustained severe injuries. Her child, fortunately, is unhurt. She was going to her parents’ house when she was targeted.

Rashmi Mehra, mother of the victim, lodged a complaint with the police. Her father Sandeep Mehra said a youth tried to chase the accused, but the accused threatened him with a sharp-edged weapon. The Civil Lines police have registered a case under Section 379-B of the IPC.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Lakhbir Singh said the CCTV footage was blur and therefore the accused could not be identified so far. The police have circulated the video and pictures of the suspects and expects to find some clues, he said.

Meanwhile, the footage has gone viral on social media and netizens are fuming over the incident, accusing the law enforcement agencies of having failed to nail the criminals.

In another incident, two unknown motorcycle persons snatched an I-phone of a girl who along with her father was returning home on a scooter after paying obeisance at Gurudwara Shaheed Baba Deep Singh. Victim’s father Baljit Singh said the incident occurred near Ashirwad Hotel on Batala road.

In a similar case, three persons snatched an earring of a woman when she was returning home with her daughter from school in Kangra Colony. She said the earring weighed 2.5 gm. The bike-borne snatchers fled in no time. The police have registered a case.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Amrik Singh Pawar said that the police had nabbed a number of snatchers in the past. After getting released from jail, they again take up such illegal activities. He said a majority of snatchers are drug addicts as well.

Every possible step is being taken to curb snatchings, he added.