Chain-snatchers escape police firing

3 separate incidents of chain snatching reported in the city on Monday but all accused managed to flee

Hyderabad: Cops attached to Anti-Chain Snatching (ACS) teams opened fire on two offenders during a snatching attempt at Vanasthalipuram area here on Monday. However, the accused managed to escape from the scene even as the police launched a manhunt.

The incident took place at Rajadhani Hotel at Auto Nagar in Vansthalipuram around 11 am on Monday. The culprits tried to snatch the chain from Sai Anuradha (37), resident of Huda Sai Nagar Colony when she was returning home after visiting a bank near the hotel.

Two constables from Vanasthalipuram police station attached to the ACS were waiting at the spot based on credible information that some suspects were roaming in the area from early hours on Monday. The cops opened fire when the bike-borne offenders attempted to snatch the gold chain worn by the woman.

Describing the scene of crime, one of the locals said, “CCTV footage of the incident was recovered from one of the establishments. On witnessing the snatchers attempting to steal the gold chain, Ravi Shankar, one of the constables, who was standing about 10-feet away from the snatchers, whipped out his service revolver and opened two rounds of fire, while the other constable who was standing immediately next to the victim, did not dare to catch the offenders.”

“The bike used by snatchers had no number plate. The accused seemed to be youngsters who knew the locality well. Teams have been formed to nab them,” said LB Nagar DCP Tafseer Iqbal.

More chain-snatchers give cops the slip

Meanwhile, chain-snatchers struck at two different places in Cyberabad on Monday. Two men on a bike snatched away a three tola gold chain worn by Sumathi, a housewife from Chaitanyapuri, when she was standing outside a HUDA complex in Saroornagar.

Around the same time, snatchers managed to flee with a two-tola gold chain worn by a woman Indira (55) at Alwal while she was going to a telephone booth near Balaji Temple. One of the offenders walking towards her snatched the chain and pushed her down. Before the victim could raise an alarm, the culprits ran towards his accomplice who was waiting on a scooter (White Honda Activa) few meters away from the spot.

Alarmed by the series of incidents, the Cyberabad police started checking vehicles at several places to nab the accused, but in vain. As many as 256 chain-snatching offences were reported in Hyderabad Police Commissonerate this year and about 300 such cases were reported in Cyberabad Police Commissonerate.

Cyberabad Police Commissioner C V Anand told the media that despite fall in the number of cases of chain-snatching compared to previous years, the offenders have been ruthlessly injuring victims and cops when attempting to intercept them.

“On learning that the snatchers were carrying deadly weapons, ACS teams have also been given guns to use them as self-defence. Our teams are working strenuously to nab the accused,” the Commissioner said