THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, July 23: Palamu police have released four photographs of the ‘suspected bikers’ of chain snatching, incidents of which have risen in the past few weeks in the town of Daltonganj.
Palamu police have also announced a reward of 25,000 rupees for pin point and precise input/ info about any of these four that serves police to crack the case. As usual police strongly assures total confidentiality of the person.
Phone numbers of the SDPO, OC and police control room have been popularized also for the benefit of the common man.
According to the Palamu SP Reeshma Ramesan, “These bikers do wear helmets. It is to save themselves from the scrutiny of the traffic police.”
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Suspects Seen Roaming Without Helmets in Some Cases
“However, a couple of them ‘just roam around without helmet or any face cover or mask’,” SP added.
“We understand the suspected bikers are no locals and so they are emboldened enough not to cover their faces as their recognition and identification are just out of question for the reason of their being alien to this place”, said the SP.
Echo of Past Crime Patterns and Modus Operandi
A similar and identical chain snatching spree occurred here in Daltonganj in the first few years of the formation of new state Jharkhand, when the then SP had a clue of this chain snatching through a washerman who had nonchalantly told the town police that he had some customers who wanted quick laundry and didn’t mind paying a few more extra rupees.
The then police kept an eye on that washerman and there did come a man asking for a quick laundry who when interrogated spilled all the beans.
These chain snatchers take rented rooms in some cut-off locality where in a small room, three or four live like a cemented bag, never mixing with the landlord nor with the locals. Aloofness is their trade mark.
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SP too said the chain snatchers choose localities like Chianki or say some corners in Chainpur side to remain a faceless creature.
It’s rainy time now, and hence the chain snatchers can’t afford to live roofless. As for food, they eat less where they live.
Preferred Routes and Public Advisory
The Jharkhand Story correspondent has in its survey found railway platform number 2 and 3 a very easy access to such chain snatchers. They had used it in the past too.
Their modus operandi is almost identical. One, it’s a broad lane, not any narrow alley or blind alley. Two, they choose a road where traffic is, as the snatchers know such is the indifference of a passerby to other passerby that minutes would be lost in understanding as to what happened and during this they would be a kilometre or two away from the scene.
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This correspondent spoke to some ladies to know what they feel if they walk down the streets without gold necklace or chain to which the sensible ladies nodded in affirmation of not wearing gold chain or necklace while out in the street. Men too have become victims of the chain snatching.
The town is hosting Disney World Mela where women and girls come flaunting their trendy jewellery. It’s time they be cautious in their own larger interest.
