Thane: Three Police Officers Injured In Stone Attack Near Ambivli Railway Station

Thane, 6th November 2024: Three officers from the Andheri MIDC police Station were injured after a mob threw stones at them near Ambivli railway station around 10:30 pm on Wednesday. The officers had been returning to Mumbai after apprehending a 20-year-old chain-snatcher, Onu Lala Irani, from Irani Basti, a known hideout for chain-snatchers near Ambivli.

API Yashwant Palve sustained head injuries, while two constables suffered minor scratches. Palve has been hospitalized. The Mumbai police have launched a search for the chain-snatcher, Irani.

Following the attack, the local Khadakpada police filed a case against 20 to 25 individuals and arrested four. The search for the remaining suspects is ongoing. While attacks on police by the relatives of chain snatchers from Irani Basti have occurred before, this is the first time they have targeted officers on railway station premises.

The incident occurred after police apprehended Irani, who is believed to have been involved in several chain-snatching incidents. Police informers had identified Irani and other suspects, and a team of three officers and 13 constables were dispatched to Ambivli. As they were taking Irani into custody, his relatives threw stones at the officers in an attempt to free him.

A viral video captured the scene, showing the police officers trying to secure Irani in the senior booking clerk’s office while the mob, which included children, threw stones. Some women were also seen helping Irani escape.

Atul Zende, DCP of the Kalyan zone, confirmed that an offence had been registered against the mob, and four individuals had been arrested. A search is underway for the remaining attackers.

Additionally, the Kalyan GRP has initiated a separate investigation for the illegal entry into railway property and damage caused by the mob, as stated by Pandarinath Kande, Senior Police Inspector of the Kalyan GRP.