Chain snatchers strike again amid police cover

NASHIK: Strict bandobast in lieu of Sunday's bypoll elections and nakabandi as ordered by the newly appointed police commissioner not withstanding, chain snatchers managed to strike yet again, this time attacking a woman from Adgaon. It's almost as if the criminals are mocking the incompetence of the police in keeping a check on the menace.

According to the Adgaon police, victim Mirabai Shankarrao Misal (53), a resident of Nandur naka, Adgaon, was walking on the road in Bidi Kamgarnagar on Saturday evening when she was attacked by two unidentified persons on a motorcycle.

"Around 6.15pm, two unidentified persons on a motorcycle approached Misal from the front and the one riding pillion snatched her gold chain worth Rs 15,000," a police official said.

He further said that the incident took place in a residential area when the victim was alone. "We have gone through the CCTV footage from the nearby areas but we have not been able to locate the suspects, who committed the crime. Further investigations are on," he added.

So far, 13 chain snatchings have been reported in August, almost double the number of such incidents registered in July, which was seven. Going by these figures, there is, on a average, one chain snatching incident taking place every two days in the city limits. The total number of chain snatchings stands at 76 since January.

The city police, on their part, have initiated a number of preventive measures, including implementation of variations in nakabandi and stepping up patrolling, but to no avail.

Repeated attempts to contact assistant commissioner of police (crime) Sachin Gore were futile as he refused to answer his phone.