Police say accused belonged to gangs from Gujarat, Pune, and Mumbai
Devotees gather at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, on the first day of the festival on Sunday. PICS/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The Mount Mary Festival (Bandra Fair) began on Sunday, drawing more than 17,000 devotees. However, the celebrations were marred by thefts, as gangs from Gujarat, Pune, and Mumbai targeted devotees, stealing valuables amounting to lakhs of rupees, including gold chains, wallets, and mobile phones.
On the first day of the fair, around 12 people were caught pickpocketing. According to Bandra police officers, the festival — celebrated for more than 300 years — attracts thousands of devotees every year who gather to honour tradition. To curb thefts, a special squad was deployed to maintain strict vigil at the fair.
(From Left) Asif Ali Shaikh; Irfan Mutta Mohammad Raza; Asif Yusuf Khan; Shaklen Sagir Ansari; Hussain Mukhtar Irani
On Sunday, Bandra police registered nine FIRs after devotees reported their valuables had gone missing in the crowds. Under the guidance of Additional Commissioner of Police Paramjit Singh Dahiya and Deputy Commissioner of Police Dikshit Gedam, a special team of 12 officers from Zone IX was formed to catch the culprits red-handed.
A police officer said, “Most of the accused are habitual offenders with multiple criminal records. Every year, they target devotees at crowded places like Mount Mary. Many even bring their families along to avoid suspicion. They take advantage of the crowds to carry out pickpocketing and chain-snatching.”
The officer added that nine FIRs have been registered and 12 people arrested so far, including nine men and three women. “The accused are from Gujarat, Pune, and Malwani. Two of them were caught red-handed while stealing gold chains at the fair. We urge devotees to immediately report such incidents to the police so that the accused can be identified and arrested.”
The arrested accused have been identified as Shaklen Sagir Ansari, Hussain Mukhtar Irani, Asif Yusuf Khan, Irfan Mutta Mohammad Raza, and Asif Ali Shaikh, among others.
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