Two held for Green Avenue snatching

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 15

With the arrest of two persons, the city police on Sunday claimed to have solved a snatching incident in which a woman was targeted in Green Avenue in January this year. The victim along with a baby was dragged up to a little distance by the snatchers and a CCTV footage of the incident had gone viral.

DCP (Law and order) Amrik Singh Powar, while addressing mediapersons, said the crime was committed by Mukesh Kumar, alias Kaka, and Pardeep Singh, alias Sonu, of New Canal Colony. The accused were riding a bike without registration number when a team of the Ranjit Avenue police caught them at a naka (checkpoint). The police found 850 intoxicating tablets from their possession following which a case under NDPS Act was registered against them.

During interrogation, the duo confessed to have snatched a purse from Green Avenue three months ago. The bike they were riding had been stolen posh Ranjit Avenue.

It may be recalled that the victim, Garima Mehra, was carrying a baby when the accused had snatched her purse, making her and the baby fall on the road. She had sustained injuries but her child was fortunate enough to be unhurt. A youth had tried to chase them but the accused threatened him with a sharp-edged weapon.

The CCTV grab of the incident had gone viral and the police had drawn sharp criticism from residents for its failure to nail criminals. Even Cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu had visited the victim’s residence assuring them of arrest of the suspects.