Gang of snatchers busted, one held

With the arrest of a notorious criminal, the city police on Thursday claimed to have busted a gang of snatchers involved in over 50 incidents of chain and purse snatchings in the state capital. Cops have also recovered belongings of victims of at least 21 incidents and a stolen motorcycle used in the crime.

The arrested person was identified as an Unnao resident Sandip Kumar Kashyap. Cops said his other crime partners are Rohit Srivastava, Himanshu Sharma, Irfan, Harish Pahadi and Monu Mishra. Pahadi and Mishra are already lodged in Lucknow district jail after being arrested in separate incidents from Aliganj while three others are at still at large.

SSP Rajesh Pandey said the gang was mainly operational in the trans-Gomti area. He said the gang’s modus-operandi was to ride a stolen motorcycle and target people moving alone in the market and public places. He said the gang also carried along crude bombs and used it if they got trapped while committing the crime. He said they used to lob the crude bomb on their targets if they resisted.

The SSP said the gang was so notorious that they might have committed over 50 snatchings in past four months. He said at least 19 mobile phones, three watches and a stolen motorcycle has been recovered from Kashyap. Besides, two crude bombs were also recovered from him.

He said Kashyap’s arrest would certainly curb snatchings incidents in the city. Moreover, police team is further trying to track down other three members of the gang, he added.

BELONGINGS OF VICTIMS OF AT LEAST 21 INCIDENTS AND A STOLEN MOTORCYCLE RECOVERED