In a shocking incident, two bike-borne criminals snatched gold chain off a middle-aged woman on Circuit House Road near Army Camp gate under Bistupur police station area around noon on Friday.
The incident took place as the victim Konika Ray (40) was on her way to Bistupur market by pillion-riding behind husband Ashim from their house in Sonari. The snatchers who were moving on a sports bike snatched the gold-chain.
The victims, who were in a scooter, were left with no option than to lodge complain with Bistupur police station.
Officer-in-charge, Bistupur thana Anuj Kumar rushed to the spot and deputed a team of police personnel at the scene of snatching to remain vigilant on the road. “We are investigating the incident. We inspected the place of snatching and the criminals had chosen a spot which is not covered under the CCTV camera’s range. Had the incident taken place in front of the petrol pump or a little away toward the Circuit House, then we would have nabbed the chain-snatcher,” said the officer-in-charge.
“I am in state of shock and everything happened in split of second. My gold chain was worth over Rs40,000,” said the woman. Significantly, this was the second incident of chain-snatching in Bistupur within the past 24 hours. Earlier, two bike-borne criminals snatched a gold chain from a 27-year-old women, Sweta Agrawal on Jubilee Road inside the park. The incident took place while the girl was riding back home to Mango from Sonari where she had come to meet a friend. The victim has reported about the incident with the Bistupur police this morning only.
Superintendent of police (city) Prashant Anand said the incidents of chain-snatching in broad-day-light despite an intensified patrolling are matter of concern. Chain snatchers in the city are prowl with cases of snatching being reported every passing day. In most cases, youngsters targeted women in quiet lanes. A majority of chain 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.
“Areas like Sakchi Bistupur main road, railway station, Kadma Sonari link road are more prone to such cases. The gang ride up to the victim in their motorcycle and ask for directions. At a convenient time they commit the crime and flee the scene,” said a police official.