Chain Snatcher Killed in Police Encounter in Chennai

Key Takeaways

A chain snatcher was killed by police in Chennai.
This marks the fourth encounter-related death since July 2024.
The suspect was involved in multiple chain-snatching incidents.
Authorities are under scrutiny by the State Human Rights Commission.
Police have adopted a controversial approach towards crime prevention.

Chennai, March 26 (NationPress) A chain snatcher, who was detained the previous day, was shot dead in a police encounter near the Taramani railway station area in Chennai early Wednesday morning while attempting to flee.

This incident represents the fourth encounter-related fatality in the city since A. Arun took over as the Greater Chennai Police Commissioner in July 2024, following the assassination of Tamil Nadu BSP State President K. Armstrong.

As per police reports, 28-year-old Jaffer Gulam Hussain, originally from Uttar Pradesh, was apprehended on Tuesday alongside his accomplice Suraj at Chennai Airport while trying to catch a flight to New Delhi.

The pair was allegedly involved in numerous chain-snatching cases throughout the city.

The fatal encounter occurred when police transported Jaffer to the Taramani area to recover pilfered jewelry. During this operation, he reportedly assaulted Inspector Buhari and attempted to escape. Consequently, police returned fire, killing him instantly.

Authorities indicated that Jaffer had been on the run from Maharashtra law enforcement since 2020 and had participated in nearly 50 chain-snatching incidents.

Together with Suraj, he had targeted morning walkers and pedestrians along East Coast Road (ECR), Adyar, and Besant Nagar in Chennai, stealing gold jewelry valued at around Rs 10 lakh, which amounts to 16 sovereigns.

This incident adds to a series of police encounters that have unfolded since the murder of BSP leader K. Armstrong on July 5, 2024. The principal suspect in Armstrong’s murder, Thiruvengadam, was killed when police took him to Madhavaram Lake to collect evidence. As per officials, he attempted to assault the officers after his handcuffs were removed, prompting them to retaliate.

Following this, Kakkathope Balaji, a notorious criminal with over 60 cases against him, was shot dead by a police unit in Vyasarpadi.

In another notable case, Chennai Police eliminated ‘Seizing’ Raja, a gangster who had been captured in Andhra Pradesh and was brought back to the city. He, too, allegedly tried to attack officers during an evidence-gathering operation.

These consecutive 'encounter killings' have attracted the attention of the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), which has summoned Commissioner A. Arun for an explanation. The Commissioner had previously asserted during a media briefing on July 7 last year that the police would “handle rowdies in the language they comprehend.”