Chain Snatching Suspect Killed by Police in Chennai: Commissioner Claims Justifiable Action
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Synopsis
On March 26, 2024, a chain snatcher named Jaffar was killed by police in Chennai. Commissioner A. Arun claimed the officers acted in self-defence after Jaffar opened fire. Three suspects linked to a Mumbai gang were arrested, and the incident raises concerns over increasing encounter killings in Tamil Nadu, prompting scrutiny from human rights organizations.
Key Takeaways
- Jaffar's death occurred during a police encounter.
- Police acted in self-defence after being fired upon.
- Three suspects linked to a Mumbai gang were arrested.
- Six gold chains were recovered from the scene.
- Increasing encounter killings in Tamil Nadu draw human rights scrutiny.
Chennai, March 26 (NationPress) In the aftermath of the death of a suspected chain snatcher during police action, Greater Chennai City Police Commissioner A. Arun asserted on Wednesday that the officers acted in self-defence.
The individual involved in the chain snatching incident, identified as Jaffar, allegedly fired upon the police, which resulted in his death from retaliatory gunfire.
While addressing the press, Commissioner A. Arun revealed that Jaffar had guided a police unit to an abandoned area near the Taramani railway station around 2:30 am on Wednesday.
He purportedly claimed to have concealed the stolen jewelry and the motorcycle utilized in the crimes at that site.
Upon arrival, police reported that Jaffar unexpectedly drew a hidden country-made pistol from the bike and opened fire at them.
Despite warnings to cease, he continued shooting, which compelled the police to return fire in self-defence.
Jaffar was injured during the confrontation and was immediately transported to a nearby private hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries before arrival. His remains have been sent to the Royapettah Government Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
Investigations are ongoing in this case.
Commissioner Arun clarified that three police officers accompanied Jaffar to the location.
The police successfully recovered six gold chains from the area.
Authorities are also investigating whether the motorcycle, which has a Karnataka registration number, was stolen or belonged to Jaffar.
Commissioner Arun disclosed that Jaffar and two other arrested suspects are allegedly part of a gang operating out of Mumbai.
The accused have multiple pending cases filed against them in various local law enforcement agencies.
Among the three apprehended, two are residents of Mumbai, while the third is from the Bidar district of Karnataka.
The investigation commenced after six chain snatching incidents were reported in Chennai on the same day. Police scrutinized CCTV footage from 56 locations to trace the suspects.
Based on surveillance visuals and initial inquiries, investigators suspected the accused were not from Tamil Nadu.
Consequently, officials at the airport and railway stations were immediately notified.
As per the police statement, airport personnel alerted them that two individuals had attempted to purchase last-minute tickets to Hyderabad.
One of the individuals lacked proper identification, preventing him from securing a ticket.
As a precaution, police requested that the flight bound for Hyderabad be held back from departing.
The suspects, later identified as Jaffar and Misamum, subsequently bought tickets to Mumbai and were arrested at the airport.
Further interrogations led police to a third accomplice, Salman Hussain, who had boarded the Pinakini Express from Chennai Central Railway Station.
He was apprehended by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) at Ongole station in Andhra Pradesh.
All three suspects reportedly confessed to their participation in the chain snatching incidents.
Jaffar’s death contributes to a rising count of alleged encounter killings in Tamil Nadu, a practice that has faced backlash from human rights organizations accusing police of excessive force and brutality.
In July 2024, Thiruvengatam—a suspect in the murder of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Tamil Nadu President K. Armstrong—was shot dead by police.
In September, Kakathoppu Balaji, a known criminal, met a similar fate.
A week later, another individual known as “Seizing” Raja, initially thought to be linked to Armstrong’s murder, was also shot dead.
Later, police confirmed Raja had no connections to the case.
Raja’s spouse released a video after his arrest, claiming he was with her at the time of the murder and was innocent.
These consecutive encounter killings have attracted scrutiny from the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), which has summoned Commissioner Arun for an explanation.
Notably, during his media briefing upon taking office on July 7, 2024, Commissioner Arun had stated that the police would “handle rowdies in the language they comprehend.”
