Spurt in chain-snatching incidents ‘a matter of grave concern’, says Allahabad High Court

‘Such incidents need to be taken seriously’ and have created a ‘fear psychosis rendering many women reluctant to step out of their homes’, the court says

A spurt in incidents of chain-snatching is a matter of grave concern and has created a fear psychosis, rendering many women reluctant to step out of their homes, the Allahabad High Court has noted. The court made the observation while rejecting the bail application of a person accused of chain-snatching and later firing at the police team which had gone to apprehend him last October in Kanpur. “Even as the chain-snatchers continue to prowl the city with repeated incidents of them targeting women, a sense of fear has been instilled in women who have now stopped wearing gold ornaments or at the most wear a very thin one that is not even visible,” the court said.