SMS perverts use fake papers to hoodwink cops

Mumbai: The incessant ringing of her cellphone in the dead of the night woke up Reema (name changed) from her deep slumber. The Chembur resident, who works as an executive with a private firm, answered the phone, only to hear the maniacal laughter of aman. A few days later, Reema received an obscene text message from the same number. To make matters worse, Reema's two female flatmates also started receiving vulgar SMSes from the same number. They then approached the police. "The man told us the cops will never find him as he had procured six SIM cards using fake documents," said Reema. 

    The cops traced the number to a Goregaon man and learnt that he was unaware that his papers had been used to obtain the SIM card. 
    Reema and her flatmates are not alone. Many women are still waiting for the perverts, who harassed them through obscene SMSes and emails, to be brought to justice. Investigators, too, admit that very rarely do such persons get caught. "Mobile service providers do not thoroughly check documents while giving out SIM cards. This negligent approach helps the perverts get away with their crime," said an officer. 
    According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Mumbai has the maximum number of registered cases of sexual harassment or obscenity through SMS, MMS or email. Between 2007 and 2012 (till August), 84 such cases were registered in the city. When it comes to states, Maharashtra, too, doesn't fare better. The NCRB data shows Maharashtra has the third highest number of such cases (169) registered in the country in the same period. 
    JCP (crime) Himanshu Roy said, "We will take up the matter with the information technology ministry so that proper action is taken against erring service providers." 
    A spokesperson of a leading telecom operator said the cops were trying to pass the buck by blaming operators. Times View: Crack the whip B oth service providers and cops need to be more proactive when it comes to helping victims of online/mobile sexual harassment. The trauma that the victim goes through should not be compounded by official apathy and the gloves should be off while dealing with these predators. They are a real enough menace though they may be operating in the virtual world.

Now, chain-snatchers hop off bikes & knock on victim’s door

They Target Ground-Floor Flats, Chawls In Bylanes

    In a disturbing trend, emboldened motorcycle-borne thieves have now started landing up at a victim's doorstep. They call a victim out of her home on the pretext of asking for a random address. They typically target those who live in chawls and groundfloor flats of old buildings situated in narrow bylanes and quiet streets. The pillion rider keeps the victim engaged by asking confusing questions and suddenly lunges for her gold chain and quickly flees on the bike with the booty, the police told TOI. 
    The thieves have started resorting to this new modus operandi following the police crackdown on the chainsnatching menace. They have been finding escaping from highways, main roads and even deserted stretches difficult due to regular police bandobast and patrolling of vulnerable locations. Their numbers have, therefore, dwindled. (See: 'Crime on the street'). 
    "They knock on doors of residences after conducting a recce. They zero in on those who live alone or are on their own at a particular time of the day. It is our prime responsibility to safeguard women and their mangalsutra. Stern action is being taken so that the chain-snatchers remain behind bars for a longer period of time," said joint commissioner of police (crime) Himanshu Roy. 
    Last Tuesday, around 9.30am, two bikers allegedly targeted Vikhroli resident Kalawati Swamy (60) and fled with her gold chain worth Rs 1.35 lakh. She lives in a ground-floor flat at Tagore Nagar society. In her complaint, Swamy said, "When I opened the door, a youth asked for some unknown person's whereabouts. He kept me engaged by repeatedly pointing out the address that he had scribbled on a piece of paper. Suddenly, he simply snatched my chain and ran towards a bike which was waiting outside. Both vanished before I could even shout for help." 
    Vikhroli police senior inspector Mahapat Indalkar said the biker keeps the motorcycle ready to flee at any point. "The new method of chain-snatching started after tightened police bandobast." 
    Suggesting a solution, IPS officer-turned-lawyer Y P Singh said, "Storing extensive crime records, analyzing the modus operandi, fixing responsibility on beat marshals and extensive usage of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras can go a long way in tackling this menace." THE NEW MODUS OPERANDI

Two bikers enter a chawl or a single building adjacent to a quiet, narrow bylane or street

The pillion rider knocks on the door of a residence occupied by a person who is alone

On the pretext of asking for an address, he engages the victim and keeps her busy

Suddenly, he lunges at her gold chain and snatches it; and speeds away on the ready bike