Facebook helps Mumbai cops nab chain-snatcher after he leaves his phone at crime scene

Mumbai city news: The accused robbed 58-year-old film-writer, Jaspal Kishan Singh, of gold and valuables worth Rs7.6 lakh

Leaving behind his mobile phone at the scene of crime proved costly for a chain-snatcher after the Mumbai police used his Facebook account to trace him to Tamil Nadu and arrest him.

The Bangur Nagar and Goregaon police had registered cases of assault and molestation against the accused in the past. (HT File Photo)

On June 29, the accused, Stalin Konar, 28, robbed 58-year-old film-writer, Jaspal Kishan Singh, of gold and valuables worth Rs7.6 lakh.

Singh, a Goregaon (West) resident, was walking near the Oshiwara bus depot when a Konar assaulted him and fled with his gold chains and lockets around 12.05 am.

Five minutes later, Singh approached officer Mahendra Dorkar, who was patrolling the area, and told him what had happened.

“The accused attacked the man while trying to snatch his chain. During the attack, he dropped his phone,” said Suresh Shinde, assistant commissioner of police, Goregaon division.

On finding the phone, Singh submitted it to the Bangur Nagar police, who used it to check the Konar’s Facebook account.

They learnt that the Bangur Nagar and Goregaon police had registered cases of assault and molestation against him in the past. Investigations led them to Tamil Nadu, where Konar had fled to his native place in Virudunagar.

Konar was remanded in police custody till July 6.