SUNDAY Special: Snatching Incidents a Constant Threat to Delhiites Despite Drop in Numbers

New Delhi, 24th December – A recent incident in North Delhi has once again highlighted the constant threat that snatching incidents pose to the residents of Delhi. A 66-year-old woman from Arunachal Pradesh lost her life after she was forcefully dragged out of an e-rickshaw by an assailant on a motorcycle, who then snatched her purse.

The victim, Kesang Dorjee, had traveled to Delhi to meet her son Pasang, a local businessman. Alongside her family, she arrived in the capital on the 16th of December. Tragically, the incident occurred on the 17th of December while they were commuting from Majnu Ka Tila to the Metro station after having lunch at Tibet Colony.

Dorjee was seated on one side of the e-rickshaw, accompanied by her daughters on the other side when an unidentified person approached the vehicle and attempted to snatch her purse. In her brave resistance, she was forcefully pulled out of the e-rickshaw, leading to severe injuries that ultimately claimed her life on the 21st of December at a local hospital.

This unfortunate incident sheds light on the increasing number of snatching cases, a crime that instills fear among people, especially women, making them reconsider venturing out alone on deserted streets. While arrests in such cases are not uncommon, preventing these crimes remains a significant challenge for law enforcement agencies.

However, official data provides some hope as it indicates a 13.2% decline in snatching cases during the first eight months of 2023 compared to the same period last year. As of the 15th of August, the city has reported 4,922 snatching cases this year, witnessing a decrease from the 5,671 cases recorded during the corresponding period in 2022. In 2021, the numbers stood at 4,468 cases until the 15th of July.

Despite the overall decline, some incidents continue to grab headlines and underline the persistent threat of snatching in the city. In August, a 23-year-old school teacher named Yuvika was attacked by three men who snatched her mobile phone while she was traveling in an auto-rickshaw. Although the perpetrators were later arrested, this incident serves as a reminder of the prevailing danger.

Snatching incidents are not limited to Delhi alone, as nearby Ghaziabad has also reported a tragic incident involving a 19-year-old girl, Kirti Singh. She lost her life during a mobile snatching incident when two bike-borne men attempted to snatch her phone, causing her to fall from a moving auto-rickshaw. Despite being hospitalized and put on a ventilator, Kirti Singh succumbed to her injuries after a two-day struggle.

A senior officer from the Delhi Police mentioned that they are diligently pursuing all snatching cases with an increased focus on solving them. The police credit their improved solving rate to the implementation of multi-pronged strategies, including heightened night patrolling in vulnerable areas and the installation of high-tech CCTV cameras.

“Additionally, the police regularly identify and deploy resources to hotspot areas prone to snatching incidents,” the official added.

For more information, contact Shekhar Singh at [email protected]

-IANS

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