All-woman snatching gang busted in Phagwara, 5 of Malerkotla in police custody

In a major breakthrough, the Phagwara police today arrested five women for snatching gold bangles from local women in separate daylight incidents. The development comes as part of a broader investigation into a series of thefts and snatching cases reported across the city in recent days.

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The arrested women Raj Rani, Kirandeep, Shinderpal, Shinder and Rani, all residents of village Bagrian near Malerkotla, were booked under Section 379B of the Indian Penal Code.

According to the police, the group operated as a coordinated gang and targeted women walking alone in residential areas. Two victims, Sarandeep Kaur of village Wahid and Promila Taneja of Model Town, were robbed of their gold bangles.

The arrests followed focused surveillance and swift police response, bringing temporary relief to residents alarmed by the recent crime wave.

Phagwara SP Rupinder Kaur Bhatti termed the arrests a significant success, stating, "This was a well-organised group of women who had become habitual offenders. Their arrest is a major step forward in dismantling a network of petty criminals operating in the region. Investigations are ongoing to identify any accomplices and to trace their involvement in other unsolved cases."

While the arrest of the women snatchers marks a notable win for local law enforcement agencies, other theft cases continue to trouble the region. In a separate incident reported from village Miherru, Shahid Alam, a resident of a paying guest facility, returned from his native village in Bihar to discover his motorcycle (bearing registration number BR-01HB-8055) missing. The police have registered a case under Section 379, IPC, and identified the accused as Sharanjit Singh of village Plahai and RD Sujal of Prayagraj.

Meanwhile, in Khalwara Colony, another case of motorcycle theft was registered on the complaint of local resident Kulbir Ram, whose two-wheeler (PB-36L-3305) was stolen from outside his residence. The case has been booked under Sections 480 and 357, IPC, though no arrests have been made yet.

In Chahal Nagar, two unidentified motorcycle-borne youths snatched a purse from a woman Pooja, a resident of Jalandhar. The victim was returning from the Civil Hospital when she was targeted. The stolen purse contained ₹4,000 along with documents. A case under Section 379, IPC, has been registered and police are analyzing CCTV footage from the area.

Adding to the growing list of property crimes, a Hyundai Verna car (PB-10CL-0015) was stolen late last night from outside Varinder Park. The car owner, Kuldip Singh of village Raipur, lodged a complaint, following which the police registered a case under Section 379, IPC. No suspects have been identified so far.

SP Bhatti said all cases are being investigated thoroughly and that the police teams have been directed to intensify patrolling and surveillance in vulnerable areas. She also urged the public to remain alert and cooperate with law enforcement agencies to help curb the rising tide of thefts and snatchings.

As the investigation continues, the arrest of the five women has provided a much-needed breakthrough for the police and a sense of reassurance for the community.