An angry mob overpowered and thrashed four men after they snatched a woman's gold chain and threatened the public with a knife in Ghatkopar
An angry mob overpowered and thrashed four men after they snatched a woman's gold chain and threatened the public with a knife in Ghatkoparu00a0
A gang of four chain snatchers were at the receiving end of a mob's fury after they were caught right in the act of snatching a gold chain from a woman's neck in Ghatkopar on Saturday.
According to Pant Nagar police, the incident occurred on Saturday at 1.45 pm. Dr Bhavna Shankar Khetia (54) was walking on a pavement in Ghatkopar (East) when the four men struck.
Four chain snatchers accosted Bhavna Khetia when she was walking down a pavement in Ghatkopar. One of them wielded a knife as the other snatched the gold chain from her neck
As the culprits were scuttling away, Khetia screamed for help. Soon a crowd gathered to rescue Khetia
Though the chain snatchers threatened everyone gathered with a knife, the mob managed to overpower the quartet. After lynching them, they hauled the foursome to Pant Nagar police stationWhen Khetia was walking on the 60 Feet Road, the four of them snatched a gold chain worth Rs 45,000 from her neck. They threatened her with a knife.
When Khetia screamed for help, passers-by rushed to her rescue. But one of the chain snatchers brandished the knife at those who tried to help Khetia.
The people, though, managed to overpower the quartet and beat them black and blue. Later, they handed over the accused to the Pant Nagar police.
The accused have been identified as Jivan Vilas Narwade, Govardhan Madhukar Rakte alias Kamal, Sunil Maruti Kamble, and Riyaz Mohammad Badruddin Sayyed.
According to the police, the accused had a way of targeting only elderly women. They would wait in front of any jewellery shop or shopping mall to spot their target.
Once they selected a target, they would follow her for a long distance before closing in. They usually aimed for the woman's gold chain and mangalsutras.
"The accused are residents of Kurla and Panvel. Only one accused has a criminal record. We are still interrogating them," said M S Suryawanshi, senior inspector, Pant Nagar police station.
