Mumbai cops under scanner for lapses in chain snatching cases

Dahisar police have come under scanner after a special squad arrested four college students for indulging in at least 20 cases of chain snatching in the suburbs.

Reliable sources revealed that the Dahisar police in March showed arrest of only one student, although they reportedly had knowledge about the involvement of other three too. Further, only four cases were shown to have been solved by the Dahisar police, even though the accused reportedly confessed to have been involved in at least 20 cases from October 2010 to February 2011.

The students, who come from middle class families, have been indulging in chain snatching to earn some quick money in order to finance their habit of smoking hookah.

The ‘surprising lapses’ shown by the Dahisar police officials have now come to the notice of the senior authorities and they have been asked to explain ‘omissions’.

The sources claim that all the four students left for their native places after being questioned by the Dahisar police. It is only recently that a special squad under deputy commissioner of police Pratap Dighavkar, headed by police inspector J Devde learned about the boys’ involvement in the remaining 16 cases, when one of the accused, Dhaval Vaishnav, visited the city.

Sources say that the accused, during their interrogations, revealed that they had told the Dahisar police about their involvement in all the twenty cases and other details about their crime. The revelations have baffled the police administration.

The sources reveal that the Dahisar police allegedly tried to dismiss the cases against the accused, as they belong to well-to-do families. Dahisar police officials refused to comment on the issue.         

Reliable sources claim that Dahisar police can land in trouble as the special squad has named the same person, who helped the accused fence the gold chains, that was named by the Dahisar police.

The police officials said that the parents of the accused first learnt about their children’s involvement in crime, when they were informed by the Dahisar police in March.

The sources said that the accused would target women, mainly at isolated locations, so that even if they shouted for help, no one would hear them; making it easier for them to escape.