PHAGWARA: In a major breakthrough amid a recent surge in street crimes, Phagwara police have arrested five women accused of forcibly snatching gold bangles from local women in separate daylight incidents. The development comes as part of a broader investigation into a series of thefts and snatching cases reported across the city in recent days.
The arrested women—identified as Raj Rani, Kirandeep, Shinderpal, Shinder, and Rani, all residents of village Bagrian near Malerkotla—were booked under Section 379B of the Indian Penal Code. According to police, the group operated as a coordinated gang and targeted women walking alone in residential areas. Two known victims, Sarandeep Kaur of village Wahid and Promila Taneja of Model Town, were robbed of their gold bangles in separate incidents. The arrests followed focused surveillance and swift police response, bringing temporary relief to residents alarmed by the recent crime wave.
Phagwara SP Rupinder Kaur Bhatti termed the arrests a significant success, stating, "This was a well-organized group of women who had become habitual offenders. Their arrest is a major step forward in dismantling a network of petty criminals operating in the region. Investigations are ongoing to identify any accomplices and to trace their involvement in other unsolved cases."