No let-up in snatchings, three more fall victim

Jaswant Shetra

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 16

There seems to be no end to snatching and loot incidents taking place in Ludhiana. Hardly a day passes when an incident of snatching or loot is not reported in the city. A majority of these incidents are taking place in the focal point area and some other areas of the city.

During the past 24 hours, three more snatching incidents had been reported in the city. In the first incident, two persons snatched a mobile phone from a youth in the Kirti Nagar area on Sunday night. In his complaint to the police, the victim, Rajat Vishishit of New Moti Nagar locality said he was talking on the phone when two unidentified youths riding a motorcycle came from behind and snatched his mobile phone.

In a similar incident, three youths riding a motorcycle looted a mobile phone and Rs 17,500 from a private company employee in the Focal Point area. According to the victim, Manoj Kumar, he works in a private company and was returning home from work when the incident took place. “I had walked little distance after leaving my office when three youths riding a motorcycle arrived there and forcibly snatched my mobile phone and wallet containing Rs 17,500 and some documents,” said Manoj.

In yet another incident, two unidentified persons snatched a mobile phone from a woman in the Dugri area. In her complaint to the police, Monica said she was waiting for an auto-rickshaw near Dugri Bridge when two youths riding a motorcycle snatched her mobile phone and fled the spot.

The police have registered cases in all the three incidents. The police claimed to have solved one snatching case. Investigating officer, Balvir Singh, SI, said the police had arrested three persons and recovered the mobile phone and cash they looted from an employee of a private company.

More than 10 snatching incidents have been reported in the city in the past three days. The police have failed to solve a majority of snatching incidentsreported in the recent past. It has been seen that snatchers mostly target women and migrants.

The ACP Crime, Gaganajit Singh, said the police had been working overtime to check snatching and loot incidents. “We have solved many snatching incidents and arrested the culprits. We have also stepped up vigil in the areas which are prone to these crimes,” he added.