Ranchi, Dec 5 (IANS): Chain snatching incidents in Jharkhand capital Ranchi have struck fear among women who have now either stopped wearing gold chains or have opted for artificial jewellery.

"I have stopped wearing gold chain. My chain was snatched at 2.20 p.m. on November 5 when I had gone to pick up my child from the school bus," Ranjana, a housewife living in Niwaranpur, told IANS. 

Sabita, another women living in the same area, said, "My chain was snatched when I was standing at the gate of the my rented house. The chain snatchers were on a bike." 

Some of the women suffered injuries when their chain were snatched. 

"I had to go to the doctor for treatment of injuries on my neck," said a victim who added that when the chain was snatched, her neck suffered a two-inch deep gash. 

Police admit that chain snatching gangs are active in some parts of the state but are mum on women not wearing gold chains now. 

"There are a few cases of chain snatching, but we cannot say it is rampant," a police official here told IANS. 

The victims avoid lodging a police complaint. 

"Why lodge an FIR as the chances of recovery are low...A retired IPS official's wife's chain was snatched in Anantpur colony and nothing happened," said Reema Sen, a resident of Aanantpur.

Jharkhand has witnessed a surge in rapes, murders and thefts this year in comparison to the previous year. This year till October, 8,641 theft cases have been lodged against 7,145 cases registered in the previous year. 

This year till October, 1,367 murder cases have been lodged against 1,305 during the same period the previous year. 

Alok Dubey, Jharkhand Congress general secretary, said: "It's very unfortunate that state capital Ranchi is turning into crime capital. The most worrying factor is safety of women. Chain snatching is rampant. If we do not exaggerate more than 50 percent women of Ranchi will say that their gold chain or ear rings have been snatched by the biker gangs involved in this crime."