In an attempt to check chain snatching menace in Mumbai, police have recently charged two of the accused under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act.        

City's Mahim police have invoked MCOCA against history sheeters -- Bada Sajid Shaikh and Alam Mansoori -- who were arrested in December last year for chain snatching and are currently in judicial custody.        

"The MCOCA has been invoked against the two a few days back after seeking permission from the Additional Police Commissioner. Now, we have also applied in the court for police custody of the two again," said Deputy Police Commissioner Dhananjay Kulkarni.        

"Perhaps, this is the first case where the MCOCA has been invoked against chain snatchers in the city," he added. According to police, MCOCA can be applied if at least one member of the organised crime gang has two charge sheets registered against him.   Under the Act, the accused will not be able to get bail at least for one year. With over two crore population in the metropolis, it is becoming increasingly difficult to curb chain snatching for the city's 40,000 policemen, police said.