Miscreants pick up fight with victim over a petty issue, snatch his chain and run away
Pune: After women, Pune men are the new targets for chain-snatchers and they have a new modus operandi, too.
In the last few days, Pune police have come across several incidents where men have been waylaid by the chain snatchers who stop men walking and start a fight over no apparent reason or an absolutely baseless reason. As their target is distracted and annoyed, the duo on the bike snatches the gold jewellery worn by their victim and flees on the motorbike.
On June 10, Sumit Lele was going to Pimpri from his house in Chinchwad around 9.15 pm, when he was accosted by a bike-borne duo. They forced him to stop his bike aside and snatched the 10 gm gold chain worth Rs 10,000 before scooting off from the scene.
Almost half an hour later, Vishal Kadam became the next victim in almost the same way. Kadam, too was going to Chinchwad when he was stopped by men on bike. They asked him why he couldn’t smoke properly. As the baffled Kadam was trying to figure out what the whole fuss was about, the duo snatched his 10 gm gold chain and fled the scene.
Sumit Valekar, a resident of Chinchwad, too became the victim of this modus operandi on June 7 where he was stopped by men who asked him why he wasn’t driving properly. He was then taken aside and then they threatened to crush his head with a stone. A scared Valekar handed over his gold accessories to save his life.
Press notes issued by Pune police reveal that there have been 14 such incidents since June 1 alone in the city, indicating a new pattern where men were being targeted by chain-snatchers.
Deputy commissioner of police (Zone III) Rajendra Mane said, “Most of the incidents are in fringe areas and isolated areas. Such robbers are targeting victims who come with a bag, assuming that they are carrying computer, smart phones and other valuables. We are conducting awareness sessions in the IT companies, housing societies and also at the public places where we are asking the citizens to beware. Citizens are requested to keep police control number 100 or nearby police station’s number on their mobile handset on emergency dial so that we can rush to the spot at the earliest.”
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