Bangalore chain snatcher shot at, caught

A miscreant who was trying to flee after snatching a woman’s gold chain was caught after he shot by the police in Banashankari on Friday evening.

The incident unfolded near Sevakshetra Hospital in Banashankari II Stage about 7.30pm. Deputy commissioner of police (South) Sonia Narang said V Ravi, 27, was nabbed after a bullet injured his left leg.

The police shot him when he was on the run after snatching the gold chain of a woman, Mamata, who was standing at a bus stop near a footwear showroom.

Narang said Ravi approached Mamata on the pretext of seeking directions but snatched her chain, weighing 30 grams, and fled. She screamed for help and tried to chase him. A couple of people, too, gave the culprit a chase.

Meanwhile, a police Cheetah vehicle rushed to the scene. Sub-inspector Dharmendra and constable Gururaj tried to apprehend Ravi, who pulled out a knife to scare them away. In response, the sub-inspector fired at Ravi.

The police opened fire on the chain snatcher near Sevakshetra Hospital and then took him to the same hospital for treatment.

He was shifted to Victoria Hospital after receiving first-aid. The police said he is out of danger.

Ravi is an electrician at an shop in Chikkallasandra. Narang said the police are verifying his background to unearth his antecedents.

4 cases in as many hours
Earlier, on Friday, four incidents of chain-snatching were reported in Banashankari. But they were committed by other miscreants. Hence, the police were on their toes. The police said the four offences were committed by two motorcycle-borne men, who were using a motorcycle that was stolen from HSR Layout earlier in the day.  Narang said the duo had snatched gold chains of four women in Banashankari

between 10am and 2pm on Friday.
After the incidents were reported, policemen were deployed on the roads. At 2.30pm, the culprits’ motorcycle skidded near a police constable. The duo managed to flee, leaving behind the motorcycle.

The police seized the motorcycle, which belongs to an employee of a private company.

He had parked his motorcycle outside his house at 9.30pm on Thursday night, only to find it missing the next morning.