Alert TMT traffic inspector nabs pickpockets red-handed

THANE: A 53-year-old on-duty assistant traffic inspector (ATI) of the Thane Municipal Transport (TMT) nabbed two men who were trying to steal two commuters’ belongings on the Satis deck on Thursday morning.
Shekhar Shimpi was on duty at around 9.30am when a few commuters told him that they suspected two men to be pickpockets.
“The commuters requested me to take some action against the two men as they had seen them stealing people’s valuables on a regular basis.I headed towards the duo that was standing at the Dharmachapada bus stop. The bus stop was crowded. While a bus arrived, the men went after two commuters to steal their mobile and purse respectively. I immediately caught them red-handed,” said Shimpi.
On getting caught, the duo was beaten up by commuters. They were taken to the police chowky till the Thane Nagar police, under whose jurisdiction the area falls, could arrive.
Shimpi who has been an ATI since 1996 was felicitated by the members of the transport committee.
The accused were identified as Prakash Kadam Chautis and Udaysingh Bhandari, both from Mumnbra. They were detained under preventive custody.
“We have not registered a case against the duo as a police complaint has not been filed. As they are detained under preventive custody, they will be represented in the magistrate court,” said Mandar Dharmadhikari, senior inspector from Thane Nagar police station.