Thane: Chain-snatcher, on run for years, nabbed

A 28-year-old man wanted from more than five years over 20 chain snatching cases was arrested by the Manpada police in Dombivli. The police said the accused, Hasnain Sayed Ali alias Irani, 28, was also booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999.

The police said Hasnain was arrested in a filmy style. A huge crowd of women tried to protest and manhandle the police but they were successfully arrested him. Police sources claimed that they usually go through such protests from women at Irani Basti near Ambivali station. "The women tried to confuse the police and created a situation to help the accused so that he can run away," said a police officer.

The police said Sunil Tarmale, a police officer from Manpada police station received information about Hasnain staying in Ambivali. Under the guidance of Sachin Gunjal, Deputy commissioner of police, Kalyan and JD. More, assistant commissioner of police, Dombivli, and a team raided the Ambivali area.

The police team arrested him for chain snatching and motorcycle theft. The team have seized two mobile phones, two motorcycles, 3 gram gold ornaments which calculate to a tune of Rs 2.61 lakhs. He confessed to involvement in eight cases. He had more than 20 cases across Kalyan, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Panvel, Pune, Satara and Pune among others.

He was wanted in any case registered with the Narpoli police station. "We have arrested the accused and are further investigating the matter," said Shekar Badge, senior police inspector, Manpada police station.