Ingenious snatcher makes hoax bomb call to avoid getting caught

A bike-borne snatcher outsmarted the Delhi Police personnel by making a hoax bomb call, claiming that a bag with two bombs has been planted at a garment showroom in south Delhi's posh M-block market in GK-I on Saturday.

A bike-borne snatcher outsmarted the Delhi Police personnel by making a hoax bomb call, claiming that a bag with two bombs has been planted at a garment showroom in south Delhi's posh M-block market in GK-I on Saturday.

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The call, made around 5.30pm, sent the police into a tizzy as the market, at that time, was packed with nearly 10,000 shoppers.

Interestingly, the assailant, who is yet to be traced, made the call from a mobile phone he had snatched from a woman minutes ago. He did it to divert the attention of the police who were trying to nab him.

Rajender Sharda, president, M-block, GK-I market association, said a dog squad, bomb detection/disposal squad along with teams of GK police station reached the market within minutes. "The garment showroom was evacuated and searched thoroughly. After one-and-a-half-hour-long search operation, the call was declared hoax," added Sharda. Ajay Chaudhary, additional commissioner of police (southeast) too said it was a hoax call.

During the course of the investigation, the police learnt that the number belonged to a woman, identified as Neeru Sahni. "Further investigation revealed that a mere minutes prior to the call, she had made a PCR call regarding the snatching of her bag and cell phone," the officer said.

According to her, the snatcher, aged around 25, was riding a black Pulsar bike without helmet, police said. "We have launched a manhunt to nab the snatcher," the officer added.