THANE: Three cops from Andheri MIDC police station suffered injuries when a mob pelted stones at them at Ambivli railway station around 10.30pm on Wednesday.
The officers were returning to Mumbai after apprehending a chain-snatcher, Onu Lala Irani (20), from Irani Basti, a hideout of chain-snatchers near Ambivli station. API Yashwant Palve from MIDC police station in Andheri (East) suffered head injuries while two constables sustained minor scratches in the attack. Palve has been admitted to a private hospital.
Mumbai police said the team is looking for the chain-snatcher.
After the incident, the local Khadakpada police registered a case against 20 to 25 people and took four of them into custody. A search has begun for the remaining accused.
In the past, policemen have been similarly attacked by relatives of chain-snatchers from Irani Basti, but this is the first time that they entered the railway station premises and attacked policemen.
Around four days ago, a woman out on a morning walk in Andheri (East) was targeted by chain-snatchers. Police informers identified three of the accused as Ambivli residents. To apprehend them, a team of three officers and 13 constables from Mumbai police arrived in Ambivli.
The incident took place when the police team took Onu, who has allegedly been involved in several other chain-snatching cases too, into custody.
They were taking him to Andheri when his relatives pelted stones to free him.
A viral video of the attack also shows policemen taking the accused inside the senior booking clerk’s office when the mob, including some children, began pelting stones at them. Meanwhile, some women were seen freeing Onu from police custody and leaving with him.
Atul Zende, DCP of Kalyan zone, said, “In this case, an offence has been registered against 20 to 25 people, and four accused have been taken into custody. A search is on for the remaining accused.”
Meanwhile, Kalyan GRP has begun the process of registering a separate FIR against the mob who also damaged railway property by illegally entering railway premises, said Pandarinath Kande, senior police inspector of Kalyan GRP.