A fugitive top chain-snatcher got married in Thane's Ambivali area right under the nose of as many as 20 policemen who surprisingly chose not to intervene as they feared it may create law and order problem.
The wedding saw an attendance of over 1000 guests which included India's top chain-snatchers, seasoned thieves and master muggers from Delhi, Bhopal, Aurangabad, Karnataka and Mumbai.
The groom Toufiq Teji Shah alias Irani, who has over 25 cases of chain-snatching against him, married his aunt's daughter Sohra Irani. Sohra is only 15, but that was a detail easily ignored at the celebration dominated by outlaws, Times of India reported quoting Thane's police officials.
Thane Police Commissioner Parambir Singh has ordered an inquiry as to why the Thane police let go of a golden opportunity to arrest Toufiq on Sunday.
Toufiq, 20, was booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime (MCOCA) in 2012 when he was first arrested. His arrest had lead to a large recovery of stolen chains and other valuables. After he was released on bail, he went back to chain-snatching and was booked under MCOCA again in 2016. This time, however, he could not be arrested and has been on the run since, the daily said in the report.
"It was not wise to disrupt the wedding as it could have caused serious law and order situation. We knew the family would use women and children as human shield if we tried to arrest Toufiq," said a senior inspector adding that his team had orders only to keep a watch on the gathering.
