The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Cases of chain snatching on the rise in city

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 12, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Cases of chain snatching on the rise in city

In most of the cases, the culprits have targeted housewives from middle class families, K.V. Subramanya

SAFETY OF women walking on the streets is at stake as chain snatchers are striking with impunity in the city.

Though incidents of chain snatching have been steadily increasing every year, there has been a sudden spurt in such cases in the past one month. For instance, two women were relieved of their gold chains, together worth Rs. 80,000, in separate incidents in Jnana Bharati and Indiranagar police station limits on Thursday night.

There has been a pattern in most of these cases: two youths coming on a motorcycle and snatching gold chains from lonely women walking in residential areas. In some cases, the pillion rider gets down from the vehicle, snatches chains and escapes on the motorcycle on which his accomplice is waiting at a distance.

In some cases, as it happened with Mahalakshmi in Kamakshipalya police station limits on August 2, the culprits come from behind and snatch the chains.

In most of the cases, the robbers have targeted housewives from middle class families who were on their way to a milk booth, a temple, a neighbour's house or those who were bringing back their children from schools or returning home from a walk.

Such incidents have taken place not only in the early hours of the day and late evening but also during noon, creating a fear psychosis among hapless women.

Though the police have been repeatedly stating that they have taken stern measures to check chain snatching and intensified patrolling, there is no let-up in these incidents. Admitting that there has been an increase in chain-snatching cases, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Gopal B. Hosur says that a two-member gang is involved in most of these incidents and the police are after it.

"The gang is mainly operating in Jnana Bharathi, Basaveshwaranagar, Sanjayanagar, Yelahanka and surrounding areas in the North and West divisions. The impression that several gangs are at work is not true," Mr. Hosur says.

To prevent such incidents, the police have kept a tab on those released from jail and also apprehended members of a few gangs, he says.

The police say that as it is easy for a criminal to snatch a chain from a woman, many people are taking to this kind of crime. Criminals are also tempted by the manner in which women display their gold jewellery, they opine.

The police have been regularly arresting people who are involved in chain-snatching cases. But soon after their release, they are again committing the same crime, they claim.

The police say that though they have held awareness programmes on crime prevention, women still do not cover their gold jewellery even when they walk alone in desolate and poorly-lit areas. Public cooperation is necessary in preventing crimes, particularly chain snatching, the police say.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka