Puri In a major crackdown on street crime during the ongoing Rath Yatra, police in Odisha’s pilgrim town of Puri have arrested 103 alleged snatchers and recovered 203 stolen mobile phones as part of a special anti-snatching drive.
The operation was launched following numerous complaints of mobile phone thefts and pickpocketing as lakhs of devotees converged on the holy city to witness the annual chariot festival of Lord Jagannath. Authorities described this year’s pilgrim influx as unprecedented, prompting multi-layered security arrangements across the city.
The coordinated campaign involved personnel from multiple police stations, dedicated anti-snatching squads, and plainclothes officers deployed at key locations including the Grand Road (Bada Danda), Jagannath Temple precincts, Puri sea beach, bus stands, railway station, parking areas, and other crowded public spots.
Police maintained heightened vigil and strengthened surveillance through an extensive network of CCTV cameras, technological monitoring systems, and intelligence inputs, enabling real-time detection of suspicious activities and swift arrests. “The Odisha Police has launched a campaign against street crime during Rath Yatra in Puri. Members of the anti-snatching squads and plain-clothed police personnel have been deployed at several places in the city. Altogether 103 snatchers have been arrested in the first two days of the festival,” a police officer said.
Officials confirmed that the recovered mobile phones will be returned to their rightful owners after completion of necessary legal formalities.
In a statement, the Odisha Police urged devotees to remain extremely vigilant about the safety of their mobile phones, wallets, ornaments, and other belongings. They advised pilgrims to immediately alert nearby police personnel about any suspicious individuals in their surroundings.
