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‘Supernatural fire trick’ used to rob women of gold ornaments, 5 arrested in Chandigarh

The Chandigarh Police said the ‘fire trick’ gang deliberately targeted uneducated women.

3 min readJan 15, 2026 06:43 PM IST

three accused were apprehended from Sector 45C in connection with the Sector 34 case. (Express Photo)

Five members of a gang that used a fake ‘supernatural’ fire trick to rob unsuspecting women were produced before a Chandigarh court on Thursday and remanded in a two-day police custody. They were arrested by the District Crime Cell (DCC) of the Chandigarh Police on Wednesday.

The arrests have led to the solving of two jewellery-snatching cases registered at Manimajra and Sector-34 police stations.

2 jewellery-snatching cases

Kanwardeep Kaur, Senior Superintendent of Police, Chandigarh, said in one of the cases, which is registered at the Sector-34 police station, complainant Om Kumari, a resident of Sector 45, alleged that three persons stopped her on the way in May 2025. They started talking to the victim and suddenly used a fire trick to snatch her mangalsutra, earrings and ring.

In the second such case, registered at Manimajra police station, complainant Sunita, 40, a resident of Sector 20, Panchkula, stated that on July 23, 2025, she had gone to Manimajra market for shopping. At around 3.50 pm, while walking from the bus stand towards Old Ropar Road, two boys started walking alongside her and engaged her in conversation. They then used the same fire trick and managed to snatch her gold earrings and flee.

The police said they recently received a tip-off that the accused were roaming in Chandigarh to sell the looted jewellery and were looking for fresh victims in Sector 45 and Industrial Area. Acting on it, two police teams were formed.

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Thereafter, three accused were apprehended from Sector 45C in connection with the Sector 34 case. Meanwhile, two more were arrested near the cremation ground in the Industrial Area in connection with the Manimajra case.

Inspector Jaspal Singh Bhullar of DCC said the arrested accused have been identified as Jilani, 46, resident of Shiv Colony, Ludhiana; Ramjaan, 36, resident of Anand Parvat, New Delhi; Hasmudin, 45, resident of Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh; Zahid, 24, resident of South Delhi; and Alam, 33, resident of Hapur district, Uttar Pradesh.

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The police have recovered stolen gold jewellery, including a mangalsutra, a pair of earrings and a ring from the Sector-34 case, and another pair of gold earrings from the Manimajra case.

Modus operandi

The Chandigarh Police said the gang deliberately targeted uneducated women. The accused first engaged them in conversation about family issues to gain confidence. To intimidate the women and exploit their fear of supernatural powers, they often performed a fire trick by spitting sodium on their palm, which ignites on contact with moisture. The victims were then asked to remove their jewellery and place it on the ground, and were told to go home without looking back.

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. He is a veteran reporter with over a decade of experience, specializing in legal, crime, and environmental reporting across the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula). Professional Background Core Beat: He primarily covers the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District Courts, CBI Courts, and Consumer Commissions. His legal reporting is known for breaking down complex judgments and tracking long-standing criminal cases. Environmental Reporting: Jagpreet has become a key voice in reporting on the deteriorating air quality and weather patterns in the Punjab-Haryana region. Crime & Technology: He frequently reports on cybercrime, digital arrest scams, and the intersection of technology and law enforcement, such as the development of citizen-centric policing apps. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 coverage has focused on significant judicial verdicts, major financial scams, and public health concerns: 1. Legal & CBI Court Verdicts "12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case" (Dec 17, 2025): Detailed coverage of the acquittal of a judicial officer in a high-profile dowry death case from 2013. "‘Wicked & evil mind’: Court gives man 30-year term for kidnapping, sexually assaulting 8-year-old" (Dec 16, 2025): A report on a stern judgment from a Chandigarh district court in a POCSO case. "Man acquitted in rape case after victim found ‘very happy’ in wedding reception" (Dec 9, 2025): Covering a unique legal observation regarding consensual relationships and age verification. 2. Investigative & Scams "CBI registers FIR in Rs 1.14-cr Patient Welfare Grant scam at PGIMER" (Dec 19, 2025): An exposé on how funds meant for poor patients were siphoned off through forged documents and a photocopy shop inside the PGIMER campus. "Month-long torture, Rs 85 lakh transfers: How ‘Innocence Certificate’ led to a ‘digital arrest’ of an elderly couple" (Dec 12, 2025): Detailing a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting senior citizens in Chandigarh. 3. Environment & Public Safety "Panchkula air turns ‘very poor’, fourth worst in country" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on the sudden spike in pollution levels in Panchkula compared to neighbouring cities. "Soon, you can snap that overspeeding car, and report to Chandigarh Police" (Dec 16, 2025): Breaking news on a new mobile application being developed to allow citizens to report traffic violations via geo-tagged photos. 4. Gangster Culture & Crime "City Beautiful in the crosshairs of gangsters" (Dec 14, 2025): A feature analysis of how Chandigarh has increasingly become a staging ground for extortion and rivalries between gangster modules. "Shooters wanted for Parry murder held by Delhi Police Special Cell" (Dec 18, 2025): Following the developments in a high-profile murder case in Chandigarh’s Sector 26. Signature Style Jagpreet is recognized for his tenacious follow-up on cold cases and his ability to report on courtroom drama with a focus on victim rights. His work often highlights administrative lapses, whether in the handling of patient welfare funds or the enforcement of environmental standards. ... Read More

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