Engg grad held for snatching woman’s purse in Chandigarh

Son of an ASI, the accused is a drug addict, say police; hails from Kangra and was visiting his father in Chandigarh when he attacked the woman

An engineering graduate, hailing from Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, has been arrested for snatching the purse of a 64-year-old woman in Sector 23 on February 27.

Chandigarh Police said the accused, Rahul Kaundal, 25, had recently completed his BTech course and turned to crime to fuel his drug addiction. (HT Photo)

Police said the accused, Rahul Kaundal, 25, had recently completed his BTech course and turned to crime to fuel his drug addiction.

His father is an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and is posted in Chandigarh. The accused was in the city to meet his father when he targeted the victim, Bharti Mahajan, a resident of Sector 126, Kharar.

Mahajan had complained to the police that she had come to the Sector-23 market on February 27 to visit a jeweller.

While heading out of the market, a youth walking close behind, suddenly snatched her purse, pushed her and fled on foot.

A homemaker, Mahajan had suffered a fracture after falling on the ground and was taken to Government Multi-Specialty Hospital, Sector 16, for treatment. Her purse contained her mobile phone, a debit card and ₹800 in cash.

Police said the arrest came with the help of CCTV footage from the market. The snatched mobile phone and some documents have been recovered from the accused, who is facing a case under Section 379-A of the Indian Penal Code, registered at the Sector 17 police station.

He was produced before a court on Saturday and sent to judicial custody.

A CCTV grab of the accused fleeing after snatching the woman’s purse in Sector 23, Chandigarh, on February 27. (HT)

Spurt in snatchings

A senior police official said there had been a spurt in snatching cases in the past fortnight, with at least one such case being reported every day. The snatchers are mainly targeting women and men moving alone.

“Most of the accused arrested so far are drug addicts, who target the victims to make easy money by selling their valuables. So far, we have not found the involvement of any gang in the snatching incidents,” the official added.

Talking about the steps to rein in snatchings, Kuldeep Singh Chahal, senior superintendent of police (SSP), Chandigarh, said, “We have increased patrolling across the city and all units have been pressed into service to increase police presence on the road. This has helped us arrest several accused.”

There had been a spurt in snatching cases in the past fortnight, with at least one such case being reported every day. (HT)

‘Seniors should remain cautious’

Former president and founding member of the Chandigarh Senior Citizens’ Association, Brigadier Keshav Chandra (retd) said, “Senior citizens should not wear jewellery when stepping out and must conceal any cash or valuables with them. The police must revamp their beat system and visit seniors to educate them. Patrolling on roads must also be intensified.”

President of the Market Welfare Association of Sector 23, where the Kharar resident was attacked, Naresh Mahajan said, “The snatching took place near the Sector 23 gurdwara. While CCTV cameras have been installed in the market, there is no camera on the other side that faces the roads, so customers remain vulnerable to crime. With many jewellers in this market, police must increase patrolling here and ensure enough staff at the nearby beat box.”