Cornered in a flat, fleeing snatcher beaten up, handed over to police

NEW DELHI : Chased by a mob for allegedly snatching a cell phone, a 22-year-old man locked himself inside a flat in northeast Delhi’s Karawal Nagar on Tuesday evening, police said. But an occupant of the flat took the suspect out after which the mob thrashed him. Police said that the suspect, Virender, had to be hospitalised, but will survive.

DCP (north east) Atul Kumar Thakur said the suspect was found to be involved in six other similar crimes. His associate who escaped with the robbed phone has been identified, said Thakur.

The crime took place in Karawal Nagar’s Ankur Enclave around 8.45 pm on Tuesday. “Two men suddenly approached me. One of them held me by my neck while the other snatched my phone. I raised an alarm and the robbers began running,” Vaibhav, 18, told police.

Vaibhav’s alarm drew the attention of local residents, who began chasing them.