Snatching cases at Zirakpur on the rise

Rajiv Bhatia

Zirakpur, April 11
In the wake of sudden surge observed in the snatching cases, especially amongst the women, residents of Zirakpur are perturbed over the issue from the past few weeks. More than five snatching incidents have been reported in the past two days. However, no case has been registered by the local police. The proximity of Zirakpur town with Chandigarh and Haryana makes it convenient for the snatchers to run away in the neighbouring places in no time.

A majority of snatching incidents have taken place during afternoon and late evening hours when it is difficult to identify snatchers. Snatchers grab the victims from the back and snatch their chains, earrings and other ornaments and escape from the scene within seconds. They target women who pass through deserted areas.

In a recent incident, two bikers snatched a gold chain of three tolas from Elha Devi, a resident of Hem Vihar, Phase I. According to Elha Devi, the incident occurred around 3 pm on Friday when she was standing outside her house where two youths on their red-coloured motorcycle parked their bike near her.

In no time one of the youths attacked her and snatched her gold chain. Acting swiftly, Elha Devi caught the shirt of the youth, but the accused assaulted her and managed to flee from the spot.

She said that though one of the youths was wearing a helmet, she saw the face of another youth. “I will never forget his face and will recognise him if I see him anywhere in the area,” she added.

A similar incident occurred on Friday when two youths riding a motorcycle targeted another woman, Preetam Kaur in Nagla village. Sources revealed that two incidents of snatching occurred yesterday at Preet Colony, where the motorcycle-borne youths snatched a gold chain and an earring set within one hour. Last week two youths were nabbed by the local residents near a private school at Baltana when they were trying to snatch a chain of the schoolteacher, sources added.

According to police sources, most of the youths involved in the incidents of chain or purse snatching are drug addicts. They adopt different types of modus operandi -- either a youth snatches the purse or a chain in lonely places, or engages the victim in a conversation and commit the crime. However, SSP, Mohali, GS Bhullar claimed there was a downfall in crime activities at Zirakpur. Recently, the local police nabbed the snatchers and other anti-social elements who were involved in various criminal activities.