Encounter In Connaught Place: Delhi Police Arrests 2 Chain Snatchers In Shankar Market Area

Two chain snatchers were arrested after an early morning encounter in Delhi’s Connaught Place on Wednesday. The accused have been identified as Saddam and Salim. The duo was injured in the encounter. However, third accused managed to flee the scene. According to police sources, these chain snatchers were involved in several cases. A desi katta (a country-made gun) was also recovered from the encounter spot. Saddam and Salim were also behind the mobile snatching incident that took place on Thursday last week. A senior Air Force officer’s cellphone was snatched by the culprit in CP during early morning hours. According to the police sources, these snatchers used to target people in morning hours on the desolate streets in and around CP.

Connaught Place in the heart of Capital has been in news for such incidents in recent past. Criminals have been targeting individuals on deserted roads. However, according to the latest NCRB data that was released on Monday, Delhi with 400 cases leads the murder category. Bengaluru (235) is second and Patna (183) figures third on the list. Under the category of auto theft, Delhi again gained the dubious distinction of safe haven for car jackers. With 37,948 vehicles being stolen in Capital, a significant increase in recent years, Delhi tops the list followed by Bengaluru (6,155), Jaipur (4,900), Pune (3,169), Lucknow (3,101) and Mumbai (3,103).

In comparison with pervious data of 2015 and 2016, Delhi witnessed a disturbing hike of criminal activities. In 2015, Delhi registered 173,947 criminal cases under IPC while in 2017, the total number of FIRs registered were 2,13,141. Delhi police had to dispose of more than 1.80 lakh cases in 2017 owing to insufficient evidence or its failure to find clues, the maximum among all states and union territories, according to the National Crime Records Bureau data released for the year. Uttar Pradesh had the second-highest number of such cases at 81,170. No cases were reported disposed in Lakshadweep because of lack of evidence or inability to find clues.

The NCRB, responsible for collecting and analysing crime data as defined by the Indian Penal Code and special and local laws in the country, released the data for 2017 on Monday, after a delay of more than an year. The agency comes under the Union Home Ministry. The data showed Delhi, the national capital, also had the maximum number of cases pending investigation from 2016 at 1,70,311 followed by Maharashtra at 1,59,395 cases.