3 women kingpins of snatching gangs held

HYDERABAD: The kingpins of three gangs involved in snatching of bags and gold chain thefts were arrested on Sunday.Police recovered more than one kg gold, silver articles and a car from them. All the arrested are women and they maintain gangs operating on three different bus routes in the city, police said, adding the women gang leaders are relatives.Police said the women members of the gangs travel in crowded buses and either snatch bags or cut gold chains of passengers.The arrested gang leaders are Ruhimunnisa Khan alias Rubina of Langer Houz, Shaheen Begum of Karwan and Asma Begum of Asif Nagar.“They along with their gang members travel in buses and snatch bags or cut gold chains,’’ Humayunnagar police sub-inspector Anand said.Rubina’s gang operates in the busy Mehdipatnam area while Shaheen’s gang operates in Banjara Hills and nearby areas.Asma’s gang operates in Punjagutta and Bollarum.Police said one member of Shaheen’s gang is a 60-year woman.“The three gangs were involved in nearly 49 offences which include 19 bag snatching and 30 gold chain thefts,’’ Anand said.They were involved in such offences in Mehdipatnam, Goshamahal, Punjagutta, Banjara Hills and Bollarum.Following large-scale complaints of bag and gold thefts in buses and bus stops, Humayunnagar police kept a watch on busy places. The trio were nabbed near Masab Tank moving suspiciously and police recovered more than one kg gold ornaments, one kg silver articles and a car all worth `30 lakh.