Balachaur, November 12 (Jatinder Pal Singh Kaler):- Incidents of mobile phone snatching have reportedly been occurring repeatedly in Kathgarh town and the surrounding areas these days, creating considerable fear among local residents. At around 6 p.m. yesterday, a man who travelled by bicycle selling plastic drums and cans in Kathgarh and nearby villages to earn a livelihood for his family was targeted by car-borne miscreants. They stopped on the pretext of purchasing drums, finalised a deal and took his mobile phone on the pretext of making a payment through Paytm before fleeing with it.
The complainant, who lodged a report at Kathgarh police station, identified himself as Nirdhan Saini, a resident of Prem Nagar Colony, Chowki Asron. He said that the incident took place near Rayat College, Rail Majra, where some people in a car stopped beside him and asked the price of the drums kept at the rear of his bicycle. After agreeing on the price of one drum, they claimed they did not have cash and asked for his number to make the payment through Paytm. He told them to pay in cash, but they persisted in asking for his mobile phone and eventually snatched it before fleeing. He reported the incident at Asron police post, from where he was directed to approach Kathgarh police station.
Kathgarh Station House Officer Kamal Taneja said that the police were thoroughly investigating the matter and that the snatching gang would be apprehended soon. However, the incident, which took place in the evening on a main road, has raised questions about the claims of police patrolling. Residents say that if even a poor street vendor is not safe, how can ordinary people feel secure while carrying their mobile phones? The victim's family said that the mobile phone was an essential tool for his livelihood, as it contained customers' contact numbers and all his Paytm transaction records.
