Four arrested in Petbasheerabad chain-snatching case, gold recovered

Four persons were arrested by the Petbasheerabad police in connection with a chain-snatching incident reported earlier this month, leading to the recovery of gold ornaments weighing 1.75 grams and 6.84 grams, mobile phones and a two-wheeler.

The accused were identified as Mohd Saifuddin alias Qutub, 47, Abdul Raheem alias Abdul Feroz, 40, Mohammad Feroz alias Narru, 40, and Khaja Moin Uddin alias Mirza Khan, 32, all residents of Hyderabad. Police said the accused were produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody.

The incident was reported on January 8 around 7.10 p.m. when the victim was returning on foot to Jeedimetla village from Miyapur. As she reached near Gajanana Enclave in the Petbasheerabad, two men on a scooter approached her from the opposite direction. The pillion rider snatched her gold chain weighing about 1.5 tolas and fled from the spot.

Following her complaint, a case was booked and a search operation was launched. During the investigation, the police analysed CCTV footage, gathered local intelligence and carried out technical surveillance to identify and track the suspects.

Officials said the prime accused has a long criminal history with at least 62 cases of theft and robbery registered at various police stations across Hyderabad and Cyberabad. The Osmania University Police had invoked the Preventive Detention Act against him in December 2014. The other accused also were involved in seven, 15 and three serious cases respectively.

Further investigation is underway.