Snatching incidents on rise, four cases reported in 24 hrs

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 29

The rising incidents of snatching have raised a question mark on the functioning of the local police as four more cases of robbery have been reported in the holy city in the past 24 hours.

In two of these incidents, onlookers held two snatchers, who were later handed over to the police.

Four unknown armed robbers travelling in a car looted scooter from a local resident, when he was returning home from the Hall gate area on late Wednesday evening. Arbind Kumar, the victim, told the police that around 11.35pm, when he was crossing through Railway station flyover on his scooter, a Maruti Suzuki Swift car came from behind and intercepted him. He said four persons came out of the car and thrashed him, snatched his scooter and fled from the spot.

In second incident, unidentified motorcycle-borne persons snatched a bag from Rahul Rathore, Assistant Director, Civil Aviation, when he was returning home after paying obeisance at a temple in Ranjit Avenue area here on Thursday evening. Rahul originally hailed from Delhi and had taken an apartment on rent in the D block of the Ranjit Avenue here. He told the police that he withdrew Rs5,000 from an ATM and proceeded towards his home located on foot. He said a cyclist snatched his office bag, containing the cash and other important office documents, plastic cards and airport passes. Though the police have registered a case, there was no clue about the suspect.

In the third incident, another local resident Rajbir Kaur told the police that she was going to Kot Baba Deep Singh near government school, when three unknown persons came on a bike and snatched her mobile phone. However, she caught hold of one of them, who was later identified as Ramanjit Singh of Sur Singh village in Tarn Taran. His interrogation led to identification of his two other accomplices, Mandeep Singh and Deputy of Patti Lohian. The police are conducting raids to nab them.

In another incident, Bikramjit Singh of Sohian Kalan village, located on Fatehgarh Churian road, was arrested when he fled away after snatching earrings of a local resident Bir Kaur. She told the police that she was waiting for an auto-rickshaw near Shashi hospital when the accused came on foot and snatched her earrings. She immediately raised an alarm and the police arrested the accused in Joshi Colony area.