Court sentence two mobile snatchers to 7 years jail in Surat

A sessions court in Surat has sentenced two men to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for a 2023 mobile snatching incident in the Adajan area of the city.

The case dates back to October 8, 2023, when the complainant, Bhupendra Bangawala, a sand merchant, was travelling on his two-wheeler near Rajhans Cinema on the Adajan-Hazira road. At approximately 8.30 pm, two men on a sports motorcycle, with their faces covered, approached him. The pillion rider swiftly snatched a Samsung A21s smartphone, valued at ₹7,000, from the complainant’s (Banglawala) shirt pocket before the duo sped away.

Following an e-FIR and subsequent formal complaint at the Adajan Police Station, the surveillance staff of the Umra Police Station apprehended the accused on October 12, 2023, based on a tip-off. The accused, identified as Sayeed Sheikh (28) and Rizwankhan Pathan (28), both residents of Bhathena, Surat, were found in possession of nine stolen mobile phones. During interrogation, they confessed to a series of snatching incidents across the city, including the one involving the complainant.

The prosecution, relied on the recovery of the stolen device and the testimony of police officials. While the complainant could not identify the attackers due to their masked faces, the court found the circumstantial evidence and the recovery of the stolen property compelling.

The court found both accused guilty under Sections 379(A)(3) (Snatching) and 114 (Abetment) of the Indian Penal Code. Along with the seven-year prison term, the court imposed a fine of ₹1,000 on each convict, with an additional year of imprisonment if the fine is not paid. The court ordered that the time already spent in custody as undertrials be deducted from their total sentence.