Cops nab 33 for chain snatching during the 'palkhi' processions

The Pune police on Saturday nabbed 33 chain snatchers who targeted warkaris during the palkhi processions.

Considering the recent spate of chain snatching in the city, the Pune police had made special preparations for the processions. Policeman in plain clothes mingled with the warkaris and kept an eye on suspicious elements.The police are probing whether the 33 suspects are part of one gang or operated separately.

Deputy commissioner of police (crime), Rajesh Bansode, said the suspects include 10 women. “These suspects were arrested from Vishrantwadi, Khadki and Shivajinagar areas of the city while the palkhi procession was on,” he added.

When the procession was moving from Alandi to Vishrantwadi at 1:30 pm, a suspect, Mahadu Rohidas Kale (18), was caught red-handed along with a chain. “The mob thrashed him and so he was rushed to hospital for treatment. He hails from Ahmednagar,” the police added. Later, in the same area, two more suspects were nabbed by the police.

According to the police, most of the suspects had cutters. “Some of them told us that their game plan was to attack the victims whenever there was a large assembly of people. They would cut the chain from behind and allow the ornament to drop on the road. Later, they would stealthily pick it up and escape,” the police  sources added.