CHENNAI: A chance vehicle check in Selayur near Tambaram, on Saturday, led to the arrest of a gang from Uttar Pradesh who were on a chain snatching spree in the locality. About 35 sovereigns of gold were recovered from them.
The arrested were identified as Ram Singh, 42, Rajiv Kumar, 27, Ram Sevak, Pinku, Bharath - all from Uttar Pradesh and Birendhar Kumar Mathu of Bihar.
Police vigil was tightened in and around Tambaram after seven chain snatching cases were reported in a week. On Satuday, police intercepted a two-wheeler near Selayur checkpost since it didn’t have a number plate. The riders gave contradictory answers, and were sustained. Interrogation led police to the gang’s hideout in Kelambakkam.
Investigations revealed that they had bought two-wheelers and were staying at a rented house. They also revealed that they would set out twice in a day, in the mornings and vening for three hours and target middle aged and elderly women walking in deserted streets. They had operated in Tambaram, Mangadu and other areas. One of the accused, Ram Singh was arrested in a chain snatching case in 2013 by the St Thomas Mount police.
Drunk lawyer nabbed for abusing woman
A 33-year-old lawyer was arrested by the Velliemdupettai police for allegedly abusing a woman in an inebriated state on Sunday.
According to police, E Sakthivel (33) of Neikuppi near Tindivanam is a lawyer in Tindivanam court. On Saturday night he got drunk in the farm of N Subramaniyan of the same village and slept there. When S Jothi (56), Subramaniyan’s wife, came to switch on the pump she woke him up and asked him to leave.
He refused to leave, and when Jothi warned him, Sakthivel slapped her and left the place after threatening her. When she returned home and narrated the incident to her husband, he took Jothi to the police station where she lodged a complaint.
On Sunday morning, police arrested Sakthivel and presented him before the Tindivanam judicial magistrate I, T S P Jayasudha, who remanded him in Cuddalore jail.
Modus operandi
The gang had bought two-wheelers and were staying at a rented accommodation. They gang members revealed that they would set out twice in a day, during the mornings and in the evening for three hours and target middle aged and elderly women walking in deserted streets. They had operated in Tambaram, Mangadu and other areas.