Kanpur Police Apprehend Chain Snatcher Following Late-Night Encounter
In a significant breakthrough, the Rawatpur police and the Crime Branch in Kanpur successfully arrested a notorious chain snatcher after a dramatic encounter on Dahlan Road in the Keshavpuram area. The incident unfolded late on Wednesday night, culminating in the apprehension of the accused, identified as Niyaz Ahmad, a resident of Sakraura village in Paschim Colonelganj town of Gonda district.
Details of the Crime and Arrest
The arrest is linked to a brazen chain-snatching incident that occurred 13 days prior, where a gold chain was snatched from a retired woman sub-inspector (SI) in broad daylight. According to police reports, Niyaz Ahmad was shot in the leg during the encounter, while his two accomplices managed to flee the scene. On Thursday, following medical treatment, the accused was formally sent to jail, and an intensive search operation has been launched to locate the absconding individuals.
The victim, Manjulata, is the wife of deputy jailer Gyanendra Swaroop Dubey of Keshavpuram in Rawatpur and had served as a retired SI from the CBCID. On January 8, bike-borne miscreants targeted her outside her house, snatching her gold chain before making a swift escape.
Police Action and Investigation
DCP West SM Qasim Abidi provided insights into the operation, stating that the Crime Branch received a tip-off late Wednesday night about the robbers passing through Dalhan Road in Rawatpur. Acting promptly on this information, a joint team from the Crime Branch and local police sprang into action. When they signaled three suspicious persons on a motorcycle to stop, the suspects attempted to evade capture by speeding away but subsequently lost control and fell.
In a tense turn of events, one of the individuals opened fire at the police team. In retaliatory firing, Niyaz Ahmad was shot in the leg, while his two accomplices escaped. Authorities recovered a pistol, two live cartridges, and Rs 4,500 from Niyaz at the scene.
Interrogation and Criminal History
During interrogation, Niyaz disclosed that he was currently residing in Double Tanki Kakori, located in Dubagga, Lucknow. He also identified one of the absconding accused, Vijay from Lucknow, as his friend. Following the encounter, Niyaz was admitted to a Community Health Centre (CHC) for necessary medical treatment.
Meanwhile, the police have deployed seven dedicated teams to scour for the absconding accused and are meticulously examining CCTV footage from the area to gather further evidence. DCP West revealed that Niyaz Ahmad has a extensive criminal record, with 19 cases of gangster activities, theft, and robbery registered against him in Unnao and Lucknow districts.
This arrest marks a crucial step in curbing chain-snatching incidents in Kanpur, highlighting the vigilance and coordinated efforts of law enforcement agencies in tackling such crimes. The ongoing search for the remaining suspects underscores the police's commitment to ensuring justice and public safety in the region.
