Fleeing mobile snatcher Junaid dies after dramatic chase in Cubbonpete

An 18-year-old mobile snatcher collapsed and died during a dramatic chase on 14th Cross in Cubbonpete, near Majestic, in Bengaluru at around 5:30 p.m. on June 16. The deceased, identified as Junaid, was fleeing the scene on foot alongside his accomplice, 23-year-old Arbaz, after a pedestrian disrupted their escape by throwing a heavy sack at their scooter.

The incident unfolded when Advocate Basavaraju M, a resident of Nagashettihalli, was standing on 14th Cross in Cubbonpete. Basavaraju was checking the location of an office on his mobile phone in order to deliver a file.

As he was looking at his phone, two men riding a scooter began following him. The duo suddenly snatched his mobile phone and tried to flee the area. Basavaraju immediately chased after the two-wheeler on foot while raising the alarm to alert people nearby.

Hearing his cries, a quick-thinking pedestrian on the street intervened by throwing a heavy sack towards the fleeing scooter. The sack struck the two-wheeler, causing the riders to lose their balance and fall onto the road. In the commotion of the crash, the snatched mobile phone slipped from their possession.

Leaving their scooter behind on the road, the two suspects got up and attempted to escape on foot. They managed to run for about 250 metres before Junaid collapsed next to a motorcycle parked on the roadside and died on the spot. Arbaz was subsequently taken into police custody.

Following the incident, Junaid’s parents informed the police that the 18-year-old was a cardiac patient who had previously undergone a procedure to place a stent in his coronary artery.

The police registered a case of snatching under Section 304 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) based on the complaint lodged by Basavaraju. Following the death of Junaid, the Ulsoor Gate police station also registered a separate case of unnatural death.

According to police records, Junaid was a first-time offender. Meanwhile, his associate Arbaz was identified by police as a habitual mobile snatcher and vehicle lifter.