Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Jun 19: A chain snatcher who operated alone and was involved with 110 chain snatching cases so far, stands arrested. The police say that the thief used to lead a luxurious life out of his income which he earned by stealing and also owns a car and motor bike. To impress people who were suspicious about him, he also has hung a board in front of his house claiming himself to be a real estate agent.
It is learnt that Achuth has been carrying on with chain thefts since a decade, and out of the chains he took away, 70 thefts had been committed in the city. He was involved in 28 thefts in Hubballi-Dharwad city. On some days, he took away three to four chains.
The man, identified as Achuth Kumar Gani (31), resident of Kanaminake village near Kumbalagoodu here, stands arrested by the western division police. Achuth had been arrested in the past once, but had escaped when in the custody of the police. The police had to fire at him to take him into custody. However, in the incident, constable of Jnanabharathi police station, Chandrakumar, was injured by the accused with a knife. Chandrakumar is being treated in a private hopsital. The accused, who sustained bullet injury, stands admitted into Victoria Hospital here. The police said he is out of danger.
Arresting Achuth had posed challenge for the police as he worked alone without becoming member of any gang, and also used to commit thefts early morning or after dusk. After thefts, he directly proceeded to his house and has no known places which he frequented. He used to approach his victims in his Pulsar motor bike at high speed with helmet on, and disappear in a few seconds after committing the theft. After three of his thefts were captured by CCTV images in western division, deputy commissioner of police, Ravi Channannavar, had formed a special team led by Kengeri assistant commissioner of police.
On June 17, when Chandrakumar, constable of Jnanabharathi station, was on patrol duty, the thief developed cold feet at his sight and tried to hurriedly escape in his bike. The constable grew suspicious and arrested him. During his interrogation at the police station, Achuth confessed to his crime there. On Sunday, when the police were taking him for spot visit in jeep, he requested to be allowed to relieve himself. When he was allowed, he had pushed the two constables and taken to his heels. The police set up check posts to find him. Assistant sub-inspector, Veerabhadayya, found him in a vacant spot at Banashakari at 5.40 am. When additional staff was deployed to arrest him, he stabbed a constable. At that time, sub-inspector, Praveen Eligar, warned him by firing three rounds in the air. As the accused continued with his aggression, he was fired at in his legs, and taken to hospital after he collapsed, the police officials stated.