Kathmandu, August 10

Police rounded up three persons, who were allegedly involved in a series of chain snatching cases in Kathmandu valley for the past few years.

Robbery suspects have been identified as Tam Bahadur Sunuwar, 39, of Chapali-7 Budhanilkanta, Talak Bahadur Rayamajhi, 24, of Ramechhap and Devashish Dolahi, 35, of West Bengal, India. Dolahi was an artisan in a jewellery shop at Balkumari, Lalitpur.

A special anti-robbery unit of Metropolitan Police Range, Teku, arrested them from separate places of the valley yesterday.

According to the MPR, they targeted at least 10 women in different places of the valley, mainly in Budhanilkantha, Samakhusi, Tokha, Jawalakhel and Kapan areas, among others, over a period of three months.

Sunuwar and Rayamajhi used a motorcycle to snatch gold necklaces while women were walking along the road in solitary places. As many as seven victims of chain snatching cases have already come into contact with the MPR.

After committing the crime, they used to remould the robbed ornaments with the help of Dolahi and sell them to jewellery shops and individuals at a cheaper price.

Police have also seized Rs 250,000 in cash that they had collected from the sale of snatched ornaments, a motorcycle, a gold chain, a weighing machine and helmets.

Of the arrested, Sunuwar and Rayamaji were repeat offenders. Earlier, they had served three years in jail after being convicted of robbery.

Police said they were searching for other suspects of the criminal racket.