Bodakdev police arrest one for chain snatching, recover gold worth ₹2.3 lakh

In a joint operation involving technical surveillance and field intelligence, Bodakdev police on Tuesday arrested one accused linked to a series of chain snatching incidents reported across Ahmedabad city and Gandhinagar. Gold ornaments worth ₹4.3 lakh were recovered, along with a motorcycle used in the crimes.

Acting on a complaint registered on July 26 at the Bodakdev police station under Sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the police launched an investigation.

Officials reviewed CCTV footage from the crime scene and surrounding areas, where two suspects on a Pulsar 400 motorcycle were seen fleeing. Upon checking the RTO number displayed on the bike, police discovered it to be fake. Technical inputs and human intelligence led investigators to identify one of the key suspects, Somesh alias Sonu, son of Shyamchandra Chandubhai Pujari, a 33-year-old resident of Saijpur Bogha in Krishnanagar.

During interrogation, Somesh confessed to being involved in multiple chain snatching cases, including incidents in Anandnagar and Sector-21 of Gandhinagar. Police recovered a gold chain and mangalsutra weighing 23.596 grams, the Pulsar 400 motorcycle used in the crimes (valued at ₹2 lakh), and a fake number plate, bringing the total recovery to approximately ₹4.3 lakh.

A second accused, identified as Praful alias Pappu Punambhai Garang, a resident of Chharanagar, is absconding. Efforts are underway to apprehend him.

Chain snatching cases registered at Bodakdev police station, Sector-21, Gandhinagar and Anandnagar police station have been solved.

Somesh has a history of previous offences, including cases of gambling, abduction, and violations under the Prohibition Act at Shaherkotda, Gomtipur, Sardarnagar, Odhav and Naroda police stations of Ahmedabad

The police have intensified efforts to trace the absconding accused and are examining whether the gang is linked to other unsolved thefts in the city. Further investigation is ongoing.