Snatchers’ gang busted in Panipat, kingpin among 4 held

The Panipat police claimed to have busted a gang of snatchers and solved seven cases of snatching and robbery with the arrest of four of its members, including kingpin.

The police have recovered 13 mobile phones, two motorcycles and Rs 10,000 cash from the accused. All four accused had been arrested for the first time.

Inspector Sandeep, in-charge, CIA-I team, said following a tip-off that four persons on two motorcycles were roaming suspiciously near Ajijullapur drain with an intention to commit some crime, the police nabbed all four accused from the spot.

Those arrested have been identified as Mohin, Gulsher and Inaam of Garhi Mundo village in Karnal district and Shahid of Shamli district of Uttar Pradesh.

The accused revealed that they stole a mobile phone from Garh Sarnai village in Panipat district on August 4 night. The mobile cover also contained Rs 5,000. A case was registered in the Sector 13/17 police station.

They also admitted to their involvement in six more robbery and snatching incidents within eight months.

The police said during interrogation it came to light that Mohin was the kingpin of the gang. They used to consume drugs together and took to crime to fulfil their addiction.

The accused used to come to Panipat on motorcycles from their villages and would target people, especially pedestrians or those travelling in cars in isolated areas and robbed them of mobiles and cash, the accused revealed. They would then sell mobile phones for Rs 1,000-1,500 to some unknown person and flee the spot.

The police produced the accused in the court, which sent them to judicial custody.