Hyderabad: The Attapur Police have arrested a habitual chain snatcher involved in an attention diversion theft racket and recovered four stolen gold chains from his possession. Police said three other members of the gang remain absconding and efforts are underway to trace and arrest them.
The arrested accused has been identified as Hathakade Vishal (25), a band master and resident of Mangar Basthi, Afzal Sagar, Mallepally, Hyderabad. The absconding accused have been identified as Ravi, Jahangir and Shyam Sunder.
According to the police, the accused operated as an organized gang targeting unsuspecting commuters at bus stops. The gang allegedly distracted victims by creating confusion while another member stealthily removed their gold chains before fleeing the spot.
One such incident took place on October 16, 2025, at the Aramghar Bus Stand, where the gang surrounded a commuter as he was getting off a bus. While some members blocked and diverted the victim’s attention, the main accused allegedly snatched the victim’s gold chain and escaped with the gang.
Following an investigation, Attapur Police arrested Hathakade Vishal and recovered four stolen gold chains weighing approximately 29.7 grams. The recovered property has been linked to four property offence cases registered at Attapur Police Station.
A case has been registered under Sections 318(4), 305(a), and 111 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police said further investigation is in progress to trace the remaining accused and uncover any additional offences linked to the gang.
The operation was carried out under the supervision of Sri S. Sreenivas, IPS, DCP Rajendranagar Zone; Sri T. Srinivas, ACP Rajendranagar Division; Sri K. Nageswara Rao, SHO, Attapur Police Station; and Sri B. Raju Naik, Detective Inspector, along with the staff of Attapur Police Station. The officers and staff involved in successfully detecting the case will be suitably rewarded for their efforts.
