In a significant breakthrough, the Chandigarh Police have apprehended a member of an active all-women criminal syndicate notorious for preying on elderly passengers and snatching their gold ornaments. The arrest occurred at the Sector 43 bus stand, where one accused was caught red-handed, though her accomplice managed to escape the scene.
Modus Operandi of the Gang
The arrested individual has been identified as 55-year-old Chando, a resident of Sangrur in Punjab. According to police investigations, this was a highly organized gang that specifically singled out senior citizens. The members would typically board buses from Sangrur and arrive in Chandigarh. Upon reaching the city, they would disperse to various crowded locations such as bus stands and markets.
Their strategy involved engaging elderly men and women in casual conversation to lower their guard. Subsequently, they would either forcibly remove gold jewellery like bangles or chains and make a swift escape. After committing the crime, the gang members would immediately leave Chandigarh and return to Punjab, a tactic that previously complicated police efforts to track and arrest them.
The Incident and Arrest
The case came to light following a complaint filed by Suman Sharma from Amritsar. She reported that she had come to Chandigarh to meet her daughter-in-law, Dr. Indu Sharma, a professor at Punjab University. While waiting for a bus at the Sector 43 bus stand to return to Amritsar, two women approached her, struck up a conversation, then suddenly grabbed her and removed her gold bangles before fleeing.
Acting promptly on the complaint, Asha, the in-charge of the Sector 43 police post, reviewed CCTV footage and dispatched a team with the victim to search the area. The police team successfully apprehended Chando a short distance away as she could not run far. During a search, one of the stolen gold bangles was recovered from her possession. However, the second accused woman exploited the commotion and escaped. Police are conducting extensive raids to locate her and identify other gang members.
Legal Proceedings and Ongoing Investigation
The police have registered a formal case against the arrested accused. She was presented before a district court, which granted the police a four-day remand for further interrogation. During questioning, Chando confessed to being involved in several similar thefts across various areas of Chandigarh along with other female members of her gang.
The Chandigarh Police have intensified their efforts to nab the absconding accomplice and dismantle the entire network. This arrest sheds light on a disturbing pattern of crimes targeting vulnerable senior citizens at transport hubs and underscores the need for heightened vigilance among the public, especially the elderly, while traveling or in crowded places.
