Shimla, Oct 6 (PTI) A 26-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly snatching jewellery from women after throwing chilli powder in their eyes in the Kumarsain area here, police said on Tuesday.
The accused was identified as Jail Singh, a resident of Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the police, the first incident was reported on August 31, when Seema Devi lodged a complaint alleging that a man threw chilli powder into her eyes and snatched her earrings in the Jubbal area of Kumarsain.
A similar incident was reported on September 14 near Kandayali, where a woman alleged that a man sprayed chilli powder into her eyes before stealing her earrings. In the third incident, reported on September 26, the accused allegedly targeted a woman at her eatery, throwing chilli powder into her eyes and snatching her mangalsutra.
Additional Superintendent of Police, Shimla (City), Mehar Panwar said the investigation revealed striking similarities in the modus operandi in all three cases.
“The accused carried out the crimes in a planned manner. He conducted a recce of the locations and surrounding areas several days before committing the offences and observed the movements and routes of the women,” she said.
The ASP further said that the accused allegedly waited for an opportunity when the women were alone on deserted or relatively isolated stretches.
“He would then throw chilli powder into their eyes, snatch their gold ornaments and flee,” she added.
She said that further investigation in the case is underway. PTI COR APL
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