A. Arun, Commissioner of Police, Chennai addressing the press persons regarding the encounter of Mumbai-based suspect Jafar Gulam Husain in recent chain snatching incidents in the city, on Wednesday. Photo: Akhila Easwaran
| Photo Credit: Akhila Easwaran

Greater Chennai City Police Commissioner A. Arun said police had recovered all jewellery the chain snatchers appropriated during their Tuesday morning spree in the southern part of the city, after apprehending the three suspects who had come from Mumbai and Madhya Pradesh.

Addressing reporters here, Mr. Arun explained the circumstances which led the police personnel to shoot dead one of suspects on Wednesday morning. Following a series of chain snatching incidents that were reported in southern part of city, police arrested
Meesan Amjith Irani, 23, of West Thane and Jaffer Gulamhusan Irani, 28, of West Thane at Chennai airport within three hours from the occurrence and their associate Salman Hussain, 25 of Barwani, Madhya Pradesh was arrested in Ongole at 8 pm.

Mr.Arun said all three were from an Iranian settlement in Mumbai. These suspects were part of a major notorious gang in Mumbai. One of them Jaffer Gulamhusan Irani, was in the third position among gang members in Mumbai, he claimed. Earlier, police said Jaffer was shot after he attempted to escape after opening fire towards police team when they took him to recover bike and jewellery near Taramani railway station.

Two suspects – Meesan Amjith Irani, 23, and Jaffer Gulamhusan Irani – landed at Chennai airport 12.30 am and 4.30 am. on Tuesday The third one, Salman Hussain, had come in advance and had reportedly bought a high cc bike from Bidar, Karnataka. All three met at the airport and travelled to destination to take posession of the bike. Only two of them were involved in the actual snatching.

The Commissioner said, “We have seen Iranian gangs involved in attention diversion thefts from the elderly. . Our investigation revealed that there was no local support for these suspects for their chain snatchign operation. It seems the gang is involved in such activities at several places across the India. Special teams will be deputed to trace other associates if our investigation reveals any such connections.”

Replying to a query from reporters, Mr. Arun said: “We do not pre-plan for encounters. This incident happened while police were doing their duty.”