The Anti-Snatching Cell of the South-West District Police apprehended two alleged snatchers following a 15-day operation. The suspects, Akash Awasthi (27) and Kartik Arora (26), were found with a scooty used in the crimes, clothes worn during the offenses, and a stolen gold chain locket bearing the ‘Om’ symbol. Both individuals are known habitual offenders with a history of involvement in multiple snatching and theft cases.
The incident traces back to February 23 when a 38-year-old woman and her two daughters were targeted by two men on a scooty near Subhash Park in the F Block area. The snatchers, wearing black helmets, fled with the victim’s gold chain adorned with a heart-shaped pendant inscribed with “Om”. The accused were identified through CCTV footage and intelligence inputs, leading to their arrest near Gurudwara, East Vinod Nagar.
A specialized team, led by Inspector Hari Singh and supervised by ACP (Operations) Sanghmitra, cracked the case after analyzing over 500 cameras covering a 90-kilometer stretch. The investigation revealed the accused’s involvement in another similar incident in the area. Both suspects confessed to their roles in the snatching incidents under the South Campus Police Station’s jurisdiction. Recovered items include the scooty, crime attire, and the stolen gold locket.
The arrested individuals, Akash Awasthi and Kartik Arora, are implicated in more than 10 criminal cases each across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana. Two cases under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita have been resolved, with ongoing investigations, as confirmed by DCP South-West District Amit Goel.
