Coming down heavily on his men and asking them to pull up their socks or face the music, Jain instructed all Station House Officers and women members of the police stations to spend maximum time patrolling the roads to curb the rise in number of snatchings.

The IGP meant business and sent his message loud and clear when he didn’t allow the concerned Station House Officers and Sub-Divisional Police Officers, besides the specialised investigation unit heads, to drink water during the meeting. The men were asked to step up patrolling in their respective jurisdictions and catch the guilty as early as possible.

“In case a snatcher is caught and he turns out to be a resident of Chandigarh, the Station House Officer of his area will have to bear serious consequences. The SHO will not be spared at any cost if he fails to keep a tab on the rowdy criminals staying in the jurisdiction of his police station,” the IGP cautioned.

Sources disclosed that IGP even pulled up the heads of specialised investigating units, who too have failed to gather any intelligence as far as the snatching suspects are concerned.

Those who received the maximum dressing down included the Station House Officers of the southern sub-division police stations, from where the maximum number of snatching incidents have been reported.

At one instance, Inspector Rajesh Shukla was asked to stand up and explain as to why did not take corrective measures yesterday, when three snatchings took place in his area.