BENGALURU: Chain snatchers are back in action. With city witnessing 326 chain snatching cases till date this year, police suspect that the notorious Irani and Bawariya gang members could be behind these incidents. These gang members were arrested, but are now out on bail. Police say there has been at least one chain snatching case every day this year, and these are only the reported cases.
According to the City Crime Records Bureau (CCRB) of Bengaluru City Police, in the first six days of November, 13 chain snatching incidents have been reported in the city. Of the 326 cases this year, 114 are yet to be cracked.Police sources said members of chain snatching gangs like Irani, Bawariya and Kuppam usually come to the city, steal bikes and then rob people, especially women, off gold chains. They then abandon the vehicles used in the crimes and leave the city. Previous investigations have revealed that they take flights to enter and leave the city.
“These gangs mostly target people in areas close to the Outer Ring Road or NICE Road, so that they can leave the crime scene as soon as possible. Many such cases have been reported in North, South and West Bengaluru of late. They usually operate in the morning and target elderly women,” police added.
Organised Irani and Bawariya gangs have a nation-wide network.
“They have heads who also reportedly recruit and assign job. The booty is handed over to the persons designated for the job by the ‘boss.’ They, in return, give them their share of money. The gang also has a set of lawyers who help the members get bail and fight the legal battle,” a police source said.
When contacted, City police commissioner T Suneel Kumar said that they are looking into the role of the accused in the chain snatching cases who have come out on bail.“We have installed check posts at all the city’s entry and exit points. All the senior police officials of the division have been directed to monitor. The police have also been told to patrol during morning hours,” he added.
“We have taken up the issue seriously and we have also got information that people from other states have been involved in this crime. Some of them are also repeat offenders. We have already booked an offender with Goonda Act. He was involved in 40 chain snatching cases, he said.
Irani gang
Irani gang members have settlements in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Their largest settlement is in Bidar, Karnataka. They are known to be experts in tricking people to rob the valuables. They are involved in attention diversion, chain snatching and even pose as policemen to rob people.
Bawariya gang
Bawariya is a community of Uttar Pradesh which is involved in chain snatching. The community also has a huge network like Irani gang, which operates across the country, especially in south India.