New Delhi: Two alleged snatchers involved in a series of mobile phone snatching incidents around ITO-IP Estate area have been arrested, with police invoking provisions related to organised crime as they were allegedly operating as part of a structured street crime module.The module came to light when a snatching incident was reported at IP Estate police station on June 27. The complainant, a resident of Gwalior, MP, told the cops that he was travelling on a bike near IP Flyover towards Kashmere Gate when two unidentified persons on a black motorcycle snatched his phone and fled. A case was registered.Police discovered that it was not a standalone incident but a part of a series of four snatching incidents within an hour in the area. “The team carried out an examination of CCTV footage and local intelligence was also developed,” said DCP (central) Rohit Rajbir Singh, adding that one of the accused was identified as Asif, 26, from Bijnor district, Uttar Pradesh.He was traced to Mahdood village, where he was arrested last Wednesday. Asif told the cops that he had committed the offence along with a co-accused, Shahrukh. The motorcycle used in the commission of the offence, which was stolen from Wazirabad, was recovered from Zakir Nagar in southeast Delhi.Police claimed that Asif had arranged the motorcycle from Tarik, a 22-year-old from Shastri Park, who had also provided them with logistical support in the crime. Tarik was nabbed last Thursday.Police found that Shahrukh would ride the stolen motorcycle while Asif, riding pillion, snatched the mobile phones. The stolen mobile phones were subsequently disposed of through a receiver, Arjun, to conceal the stolen property. Asif and Shahrukh both received 40% of the proceeds each, while Tarik received 15% and Arjun received remaining 5%.Asif is a habitual offender with 23 criminal cases across Delhi-NCR.Police said that, considering the structured division of roles, systematic sharing of criminal proceeds and coordinated pattern of repeated offences, Section 112 (organized crime) of BNS has been invoked.
