Jalandhar: 31 snatching cases in a month

JALANDHAR: Owing to a spate in the number of snatchings, the city residents are a worried lot. The snatchers here have been outsmarting police and striking at their will, that too in the busy markets.

Not only women but men are also being targeted. As per the city police sources, 31 snatchings have been reported across the city in last 31 days, one snatching per day. Snatching incidents have become a routine affair in areas including Model Town and Urban Estate. As per information in some cases, robbers have also used weapons and stolen belongings of the victim, including an Activa scooter.

On May 31, three bike-borne unidentified persons attacked a shopkeeper Mohit Arora,35, of Deol Nagar with sharp- edged weapons and looted his Activa scooter leaving him injured at 9 pm when he was going home. Mohit shouted for help but the accused had fled from the spot. Arora said, “I tried to follow the snatchers but they disappeared.” “There is a need to take strong measures to ensure safety of residents,” said Arora. Similarly, two bikers snatched a Samsung phone from one Sajan,17, of Ajit Nagar near Nehru Garden Chowk at 8 pm. Sajan had gone to buy medicines with his mother Madhu.

On May 21, an NRI woman Kuljeet Kaur,47, of Gurjaipal Nagar was looted when she along with her husband Rajinder Singh were going on a rickshaw for shopping. Her purse contained gold jewellery and foreign currency. As per details 8 snatching cases were reported in Model Town followed by 5 cases in police station (PS)-7.

Rama Mandi police station registered 2 cases, PS-5 (1), PS-8 (2), PS Basti Bawa Khel (1), PS-2 (3) PS-4 (2), PS-3 (2), PS Cantonment (1) PS-1 (3) and PS- Bhargo camp (3).

In last two weeks of April, around 15 incidents of snatchings were reported. Commissioner PK Sinha said,”The number of snatchings in past was same as of now. The difference is that we are registering each case.Previously there was no such system. We are watching each case now.”