The serial chain snatching incident reported a few days ago and the apprehensions that the notorious ‘Chaddi-Baniyan’ gang are on the prowl in the city have kept the police on tenterhooks. In a bid to avoid any untoward incident during the Dasara festive season, the Police Department has stepped up the surveillance, especially at the important traffic junctions.
Several teams comprising personnel from across the wings segments such as law and order, crime and traffic have been formed to ensure visible policing in all crucial areas.
A few days ago, the City Police alerted the residents, especially those living on the outskirts, about the possible presence of the ‘Chaddi-Baniyan’ gang after a few CCTV visuals had confirmed the presence.
“Be it ‘Chaddi-Baniyan’ gang or house breaking offenders, we usually exercise caution during the festive season. We are also cautious about this notorious gang too,” says DCP (crime) A.R. Damodhar.
Modus operandi
According to police, the ‘Chaddi-Baniyan’ gang members hail from the bordering areas of Gujarat and Rajasthan. They are also known as the ‘Kachcha-Baniyan’ gang in the northern part of the country.
“The gang roams around. The members enter a city in a group of 8 to 10 persons. SAt times, they are very violent. They commit robbery wearing ‘chaddi’ or shorts and ‘baniyan’. They apply oil and mud on their bodies so that they can give police a slip easily if get caught. They have committed crimes in several States—from Uttarkhand to Tamil Nadu,” says a senior officer from Central Crime Station (CCS).
Meanwhile, the police are having a tough time to contain the chain snatching gangs.
“We have increased the surveillance in the residential areas after the recent serial chain snatching incident,” says Mr. Damodhar.
Last Friday, five chain snatching cases were reported in just an hour within a radius of
7 km. All the offences, allegedly committed by two bike-borne youth, were reported under Airport, Gopalapatnam, Dwaraka and Pendurthi police stations limits in the city.
A similar serial offence took place on July 19 this year when two youth committed four chain snatching offences within a radius of 4 km in just one hour. The offenders in both the cases are yet to be arrested.
