100 devotees get Bappa’s blessings but lose wallets

Mumbai: Over 100 people approached the Kalachowky police station to report cases of wallet thefts on Tuesday, which was the last day of the Ganeshotsav. According to the police, the complainants have alleged that they were targeted while visiting the Ganpati idols at Lalbaug and Parel. 

According to the complainants, they were a part of the crowd of devotes on the crammed streets of Parel when they were targeted by some unidentified pickpockets. 

A police source at Kalachowki police station said on the condition of anonymity that there were only five police. officers present in the police station when a mob of over 100 persons marched to Kalachowki for lodging complaints for stolen wallets with cash worth over `13,000. 

At that moment, the police station was understaffed due to the officers being deployed for bandobast at various spots. Due to this situation, it was impossible to take complaints, and the complainants were given tokens and requested to come back on Wednesday, after the officers resume their duty at the police station.

The police have nabbed 12 repeat offenders for pickpocketing and are questioning them to find some lead in the case.