Snatcher who ripped woman's earlobes off held

New Delhi: Two persons, involved in snatching of earrings, were arrested from Uttam Nagar area, with Delhi Police claiming that the prime accused was involved in three cases of snatching, including the incident in which woman had injuries over both ears.

Police said the arrested men were identified as prime accused Mujibul (23) and Sudhir Soni (19), who used to act as the receiver of the stolen items.

On February 13, a woman reported to cops that while she was waiting for an auto-rickshaw near Metro pillar no. 653 at the main Najafgarh–Uttam Nagar road, a man – looking to be in his early 20's – came from behind and robbed both of her earrings.

She sustained injuries in both her earlobes, due to forceful pulling of the earrings and had to be admitted to hospital.

On February 16, in a similar incident, a 54-year-old woman told police that when she had come to purchase fruits from near of Uttam Nagar Bus Terminal around 2 pm, a man – matching the description – on the accused in the previous case – came from behind, snatched both her earrings and ran towards the Bus Terminal.

Police claimed that they first arrested Mujibul, on the basis of a tip-off that he would come near Uttam Nagar East Metro station.

Initially, he tried to mislead cops by saying that he worked at a factory of garment stitching and was only present at the spot at the time of the two snatchings.

His alibi was found to be false and he was arrested.

"During interrogation, he broke down and confessed to the crime. He also claimed that he had committed a third similar snatching in the area of Vikaspuri. Later, his clothes and shoes worn at the time of the incident and captured in CCTV footage were also recovered and so were the earrings. He also disclosed that he used to sell them to a jeweller Sudhir Soni, who was later arrested as well," police said on Sunday.