Chain-snatchers held in citywide crackdown

Two chain-snatchers, house burglars and other offenders were arrested in a citywide crackdown.

Three kilograms of gold and silver ornaments worth Rs 45 lakh were seized.

Police arrested 10, including two members of the notorious Irani gang, who targeted elderly women.

Three burglars, dacoits and vehicle lifters were picked up too. Vidyaranyapura police arrested Mohammed Ali (23) and Syed Karar Husain (37), natives of Thane, Mumbai. Police tracked 20 cases of chain-snatching, recovering gold jewellery worth Rs 15 lakh.

Police said the duo would visit a Thane dargah seeking blessings, before taking a flight to Bengaluru, to hoodwink the police. They would often offer 10% of the loot to the dargah.

The men used to target elderly women in the wee hours and evenings. More than 100 cases are registered against them in Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru.

In Bengaluru, they visit the Iranian community’s shrine, before snatching chains between 6 am to 1 pm, parking their bike in the railway station, taking a bus to Mumbai further on. The duo was arrested by Mumbai police last year. Six months ago, they were released on bail.

There are 20 cases against them in Sanjay Nagar, RT Nagar, Sadashivanagar, Annapoorneshwari Nagar, Ramamurthy Nagar and other stations.

Police also arrested two house burglars, Mohammed Raheem Khan and Bilal Naeem Khan, from Mysuru, recovering Rs 30 lakh worth gold and silver ornaments, 1 kg each. 18 HBT cases were traced.

The accused committed crimes in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and other states.