Chennai

The accused, K Masthan Ahmed (23), A Alliston (23), V Arun (19) and K Vignesh (24), targeted lone pedestrians in Velachery, Guindy, Madipakkam and Adambakkam and snatched their mobile phones, said Velachery police.

However, the investigation revealed that Masthan of Alandur used to distribute addictive Tydol tablets to other gang members. “For one mobile phone, they would get 20 tablets,” said police.

While this pain killer was supposed to be sold on prescription by doctors, Masthan bought them in bulk from two medical shops in K K Nagar and Kodambakkam, run by Jaisankar and Ruben Chakravarthy respectively. While a sheet of 10 tablets costs Rs 238, Masthan bought them for Rs 1,500 and exchanged them for stolen mobile phones from snatchers. Further inquiry is on.

Meanwhile, Semmanchery police have arrested two persons and have seized two bikes and eight mobile phones from them. The accused K Prabakaran (22) and B Vishwa (20) of Tsunami Quarters, Semmancherry, were remanded in judicial custody.

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