4 men who were allegedly were involved in numerous chain snatching cases in the city were booked under the strict Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, MCOCA.

ACP Kalyankumar Lavange of the Deccan division said this was the first ever such incident where the chain snatchers were booked under the MCOCA. This decision was the result of several investigations which revealed that Sunil Gawli (24) of Dhankawadi, Angad Kawli (23) of Kothrud, Rohdias Gupte (27) f Dhayari and Arun Pawar (25) of Swargate, the four accused of the chain snatching, were  closely associated with an organised crime syndicate.

“Kothrud police have arrested Sunil, Angad and Gupte in January after they had 12 cases of chain snatching registered against them. Of the 12 cases that have been reported , nine of them were from Kothrud, two were seen in Dhankawadi and only one was from Warje malwadi,” Lavange told the reporters.

This step would prove to be an effective check against the rampant chain snatching occurring at different parts of the city. It has the potential to instill fear in the thieves who are escaping the law today.

AW- India