Five held for attacking youths, snatching phones

T'puram: Five people were arrested in connection with two separate incidents in which men were attacked and robbed of their mobile phones in the city late on Sunday night and early Monday, raising concerns over a spate of night-time street crimes.In the first incident, a two-member gang attacked a youth from Kazhakkoottam around 11.15pm within Cantonment police station limits and snatched his mobile phone. The accused, Suraj, 24, and Vivek, 30, natives of Rajaji Nagar, were arrested. Suraj is listed as a rowdy-sheet accused at the station. Both were taken into custody, produced before a court and remanded. In a similar incident reported from Vattiyoorkavu police station limits around 12.15am, a three-member gang assaulted a youth who was sitting in the parking area of a hotel at Kanjirampara and robbed him of a mobile phone worth Rs 1.25 lakh. The arrested were identified as Adarsh, 24, of Puliyarakonam, Abhilash, 34, of PTP Nagar, and Naufal, 25, of Vazhottukonam. Police said the accused targeted the victim while he was alone and escaped after the attack. Police suspect the incidents are not isolated and are examining whether similar cases have gone unreported. Further investigation is under way.