Snatching cases will now be a non-bailable offence in Chandigarh with an imprisonment which may extend to 14 years.
The Union ministry of home affairs issued a gazette notification on Dec 16, under section 87 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, extending the Code of Criminal Procedure (Haryana Amendment) Act, 2014, to the union territory of Chandigarh.
According to section 379 A, the quantum of punishment for snatching will not be less than five years, which may extend to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment & fine of Rs 25,000.
In case of snatching with hurt or wrongful restraint or fear of hurt under section 379B, the quantum of punishment will not be less than 10 years, & which may extend to 14 years, & fine of Rs 25,000.
This year alone, more than 100 cases of snatchings were reported in the city. The figure was 182 in 2017 & 172 in 2018.
The neighbouring state of Haryana is the first state to make a strict law against snatching. The state had added two new clauses to section 379, which will not be extending to Chandigarh.
Earlier, snatching was a punishable offence with a maximum of three-year jail or with fine or both. The police used to register cases of snatching under section 379 (theft) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) & section 356 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) (use of criminal force to commit theft).
The UT administration had sent a proposal for extending the Act after it found it tough to deal with snatchers, who had become a nuisance in the city. The existing law in the city had failed to act as a deterrent for snatchers.
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