Records from the Mumbai police show that over 60 per cent of the chain-snatching cases in the city are attributed to people from the Irani community. In fact, property cell cops recently arrested yet another Irani, Kabuli Naushad Ali Jafri, who is involved in 45 cases of chain-snatching and cheating. Cops say that the community protects such criminals from getting arrested when police land at their doors. But Iranis and their leaders say they bear the brunt of the ‘thief’ tag due to some rotten apples and the actions of the previous generation. 

A police officer involved in Jafri’s arrest on Saturday said, “We had launched a manhunt for him and found that he lives in Irani Basti near Ambivli station. We tried to arrest him at least three times from the area but the locals always created hurdles so he could escape easily. So, we were forced to lay a trap outside the colony and nabbed him from there.” Cops added that this was not an isolated incident and that they often end up in Irani localities while tracking young chain-snatchers.