Mohali: A gang involved in a series of mobile phone snatchings in the city has been busted with the arrest of three suspects. Police have recovered 20 mobile phones and a motorcycle used in the crimes from their possession. They were produced in court Sunday, which sent them on police remand.The arrested accused were identified as Sahil Kumar and Vikas Kumar, both residents of Badmajra, and Mohammad Monis, a resident of Balongi. A case was registered against them at Phase-1 police station. DSP (City-1) Prithvi Singh Chauhan said on Sept 21, Israr, a fruit seller originally from Aliganj Bareilly and currently residing in Mohali village, lodged a complaint. He reported that while he was at his stall, two men on a motorcycle arrived and snatched his mobile phone and fled. Following the complaint, a case was registered against unidentified persons at Phase-1 police station.The police also received several other snatching complaints from the same area. An investigation team was formed, and checkpoints were set up. Later on Sept 21, police detained two bike-borne men, Sahil and Vikas. During interrogation, they confessed to committing the crime. They were arrested, and two mobile phones they had earlier snatched were seized from them.During remand, the two disclosed that they, along with their accomplice Mohammad Monis, carried out multiple snatchings in different parts of the city. Acting on this lead, the police arrested Monis and recovered three mobile phones from him. In total, the police recovered seven phones from Sahil, 10 from Vikas, and three from Monis.During questioning, the accused revealed that they used to sell the snatched phones to their associates for Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,800, who later sold them at higher prices. They also admitted that they were committing such crimes to arrange money for drugs. Police said all three have previous cases registered against them related to drug abuse and fights.Further investigation is ongoing to trace their associates who purchased and circulated the stolen phones.
