An alert traffic constable caught a 21-year-old chain snatcher who was fleeing after snatching a chain from a female senior citizen on Saturday morning at Parel TT junction. The policeman is apparently decorated and had been given a reward earlier for catching a murder accused. The accused was later handed over the Bhoiwada police.
Around 8.30 am, F. Parmar was walking towards Hindamata Junction from Parel TT as she wanted to go to Khar when the accused snatched her gold chain and began speeding away.
Stationed below the Tulpule Chowk bridge constable Navnath Ghate witnessed the incident and chased the accused on his bike. “The accused apparently did not know that he was being followed. Constable Ghate then suddenly brought his bike alongside the thief’s, overtook him and blocked his way. The two fell to the ground and the chain snatcher started running,” said an officer from the Bhoiwada police station.
Meanwhile, constable Durgesh Parate reached the spot and helped his colleague and the two began chasing the accused on foot who had started running after abandoning his bike. Mr Ghate sustained superficial wounds to his hands and knees in the process. The accused was later handed over to the Bhoiwada police and was identified as Azam Istia Khan.
He has admitted to more such crimes and the police is interrogating him further.