By The Hindu Bureau

Copyright thehindu

Two inter-State chain snatchers, who were also involved in printing and circulating counterfeit currency, were arrested by the Anantapur police on Friday. Gold ornaments weighing 304 grams worth about ₹35 lakh, ₹35,500 in cash, fake ₹500 notes, a printer, and two motorcycles were seized from them.

Putluru police, along with the CCS police, apprehended the duo, one of whom is a repeat offender facing six earlier cases in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

Addressing a press conference in Anantapur, Superintendent of Police P. Jagadeesh identified the accused as M. Jashwanth alias Raju alias Gundu, and Kambadur Bhogam Raju alias Shalem Raju alias Shalem, both from Kambadur mandal headquarters. “The accused, who are close friends, became addicted to cricket betting, gambling, and other vices. Pushed into debt, they resorted to chain snatching and counterfeiting to sustain their habits,” the SP said.

The duo targeted women in remote areas with little public movement. “They roamed in isolated places and snatched chains at opportune moments. Offences were reported from Anantapur, Putluru, Narpala, Uravakonda, Tadipatri, and nearby villages, besides Simhadripuram mandal in Kadapa district,” he added.

Investigations revealed that over the past two years, the accused had committed 12 chain snatchings — three in Tadipatri, two each in Narpala and Putluru, and one each under Anantapur IV Town, Uravakonda, Tadipatri Rural, Anantapur Rural, and Simhadripuram police limits. Police have recovered all the stolen property in these cases.

The SP further said the duo also turned to counterfeiting for easy money, photocopying ₹500 notes on notebook sheets with a colour printer and circulating them. Jashwanth was earlier booked in Karnataka and Anantapur for vehicle theft, burglaries, robberies, and chain snatching, the SP added.