A chain-snatching that took place at the Vanchiyoor police station limits here on Friday has prompted the city police to launch its Booster Bike Patrol much earlier than the scheduled date.
According to the police, Nafeesa Beevi, 58, a native of Palkulangara was walking towards Pettah along Karthika Theatre Road around 12.30 p.m. when a person, wearing a black helmet and on a black bike, came from behind and sped away after snatching two gold chains, weighing about four sovereigns.
The Booster Bike Patrol, intended to tackle chain-snatching incidents specifically, was immediately pressed into service. However, the assailant was yet to be apprehended.
Police said a case was registered.
Criminal surrenders Kakkotu Manoj, 32, wanted for his alleged involvement in various crimes including a murder case, and who had escaped from the Mannanthala police station on February 21 after being nabbed during a combing drive by the city police, surrendered before a court here on Friday.
According to R. Jose, SI, Mannanthala, Manoj was arrested under provisions of the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA) after his surrender and shifted to the Central Jail here. His brother-in-law, Raji, was arrested on Thursday, for helping him to evade arrest. Raji was produced before court on Friday and remanded to judicial custody.
Manoj’s escape last Friday had led to the suspension of four policemen from the Mannanthala police station, including Sub Inspector M.S. Vincent, grade SI Satheeshan, and constables Rasheed and Rajan.
Theft in city The Mannanthala police have registered a case after a theft was reported at the residence of an official attached to the Thiruvananthapuram Passport Office at Kudappanakunnu in the city.
According to R. Jose, Sub Inspector, Mannanthala, the official had lodged a complaint this morning stating that his house was broken into. Twenty five sovereigns of gold, about Rs.8,000 in cash, two mobile phones, a laptop and even his doctor-wife’s stethoscope was found missing.
The family had noticed the theft around 11 p.m. last night when it returned after attending a wedding at Alappuzha.
Preliminary investigations revealed that neighbours had seen a group of three men arriving at the residence in an auto-rickshaw around 11 a.m. and leaving around 1 p.m. Police said the back-door of the house was found broken.
