GANDHINAGAR: In a bid to deter ever rising incidents of chain snatching in the state, the
Gujarat government has moved an ordinance to amend Section 379 of the IPC to allow jail term between 7 and 10 years for chain snatchers instead of the current maximum punishment of three years, minister of state for home Pradeepsinh
Jadeja said on Monday. “We will insert two new sub sections - 379(a) and 379(b) - in the IPC section 379 through an ordinance. It will be sent to the governor soon,” Jadeja told reporters.
“Chain snatching will soon attract jail term of minimum seven years and maximum 10 years, and a fine of Rs 25,000,” Jadeja added.
‘Getting bail will be difficult’
Minister of state for home Pradeepsinh Jadeja said that once the new provisions are effective, chain-snatchers will not be able to get bail easily. The punishment for snatching handbags, purses and other valuables will be a minimum of 5 years in jail.
The home minister conceded that the current penalty of maximum jail term of three years handed out under IPC 379 was not proving effective in curbing chain and purse snatching.
The proposal to insert two new provisions in section 379 of IPC was approved in the state cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Vijay Rupani “to provide safety and security to people, especially women, as chain snatchers usually target them at public places”.
Officials said that the state government aims to bring this ordinance before the festival season begins with Shravana followed by Rakshabandhan, Janmashtmi,
Navratri and
Diwali when chain snatching becomes rampant.
Sources said that the government will be required to introduce a new bill to approve the ordinance in the state assembly
monsoon session likely in September.
Representative image 
