2 get 8 years in jail for 2021 attack on morning walkers

Kolkata: Two snatchers — Md Imran alias Totla, 33, and Sk Sameer Hossain alias Saboo, 33 — were awarded eight years' jail term for injuring three morning walkers and snatching mobile phones and cash from them on July 14, 2021.A city sessions court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on each convict after holding them guilty under multiple sections of the IPC and provisions of the Arms Act. The attack had taken place near Fort William. The duo had targeted three walkers and snatched three mobile phones and around Rs 4,500 in cash.
One of the victims was seriously injured after being assaulted with a knife and the butt of a firearm. The other two were threatened at gunpoint. The two accused were arrested on the same day from Entally and Beniapukur areas. A charge sheet was filed within 54 days, relying on statements from victims and other morning walkers present at the crime scene, CCTV footage, and technical evidence. One of the accused was additionally booked under the Arms Act for allegedly using a firearm to threaten two victims.During the proceedings, Hossain was granted bail by a sessions court in 2022, but Calcutta High Court later rejected the relief and the Supreme Court upheld the rejection. Hossain, who fled to Mumbai, was arrested by the Detective Department with help from Mumbai Police. Police said the case influenced morning-hour policing around Maidan. CCTV monitoring was increased and cops stepped up patrolling. PCR vans were also deployed to deter similar crimes.Jagmohan Bagri of the Maidan Morning Walkers Association expressed satisfaction over the conviction but said there was room for improving security further. "A massive security ring was thrown after that incident. Over time, that vigilance has slackened," he said.