As cases fall, police keep a close eye on snatchers

Ludhiana: To control snatching incidents in the city, Ludhiana police have made a database of persons accused and held guilty of the crime to keep a check on them.
The decision has been taken in a year when fewer incidents of snatcing have reported in the city. So far this year, 25 cases have been reported from the city, much lower than the 141 cases that were reported in the entire 2015.In March, a 45-year--old woman, Alka Ratra of Sector 32, Chandigarh Road, was injured after she was dragged by two youths on a motorcycle who snatched her purse near Vardhman Chowk. She was admitted in the ICU of a city hospital for several days as she had suffered a head injury.
Later, in April, merchant navy engineer Surinder Sawhney of Mumbai and his relative, Naipaul Sawhney, had suffered serious injuries after some youths attacked them and snatched a bag containing US$700. They also taken away Rs11,000, documents, a gold ring, and a wallet containing Rs 2, 000 form the victims at Baba Than Singh Chowk.
Compared to previous years, the number of caes of snatching have come down this year. In the past five years, the highest number of cases was reported in 2014 (157). "We have already compiled the data base of around 200 snatchers in the city who have been involved in multiple snatchings. Of these, 70 have been arrested this year. We are keeping an eye on the activities of the others. The motive is to check snatching in the city and bring a sense of security among people on the roads," said additional deputy commissioner of police (crime) Balkar Singh.
Police commissioner Jatinder Singh Aulakh said snatchers would be strictly dealt with. "Apart from the details of the cases in which they have been named, we also have their complete adresses and their pictures," he said.