Noida: A 32-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly snatching a gold chain from a woman during her morning walk in the Sector 113 area. The accused, Vijay Pratap alias Raja Thakur, a resident of Auraiya, has 18 FIRs lodged against him across police stations in Auraiya and Noida, including under the Gangster Act.The incident took place on June 22 at around 6.10am. VS Yadav, a resident of Skytech Matrott in Sector 76, was out walking with his wife near the T-point culvert in front of Mahagun Modern when two men on a motorcycle came from behind and snatched her gold chain, weighing 10 grams. The couple raised an alarm and gave chase but could not apprehend the assailants. Yadav told police that the pillion rider was wearing a white shirt and a white gamcha.An FIR was registered against two unknown persons under Section 304(2) of the BNS and multiple teams were formed to track them down. Using CCTV footage from nearby areas, police identified one of the suspects. Vijay Pratap was arrested on Sunday from the FNG service road in Sorkha village in Sector 113.Pramod Kumar Singh, SHO of Sector 113 police station, said the accused told police that he and his associate had sold the chain for Rs 1 lakh, splitting the proceeds equally. He spent his share on clothes and alcohol. Police recovered Rs 12,500 in cash, a motorcycle without a number plate, and a knife from his possession.SHO Kumar added that Vijay Pratap had arrived in Noida roughly 15 days before the snatching. “Police investigation revealed that a total of 18 FIRs, including gangster acts, have been lodged against the accused in different police stations in Auraiya and Noida,” he said. His associate remains absconding and police teams are searching for him.
