Fake snakes used to snatch chains, 36 women held

A shocking revelation from Gorakhpur had the district police uncovering a gang engaged in chain snatching by using fake snakes, scorpions, and lizards to terrify their victims.

- NAMITA BAJPAI @ Lucknow

The police arrested 36 women gang members and three males.Unusually comprising 36 women and four male members, the gang targeted lone female travellers in buses and autos in broad daylight.

Notably, the women would board vehicles as ordinary passengers. When the opportunity arose, they would throw fake snakes or lizards at their victims to scare them and make way with their valuables in the cacophony of panic.

As soon as the woman would scream, the gang would snatch her chain at the blink of an eye. In some cases, they even used safety pins to pull necklaces.