MUMBAI : During the last rites of Indian politician and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, thieves stole gold jewelry worth about 3 million Indian rupees and escaped. According to Indian media reports, police say that lakhs of people from across Maharashtra had come to Baramati to attend Ajit Pawar’s funeral, where the last rites were being performed in a vast field, while an organized gang of thieves targeted the mourners. According to local police, a gang of more than half a dozen chain snatchers took advantage of the crowd to steal gold chains, other jewelry and cash. Although about 8,000 police personnel were deployed at the scene to maintain law and order, the thieves carried out their operations. Some suspected thieves were caught by the public and tortured, after which they were handed over to the police. So far, about 6 suspects have been arrested. It is worth noting that Ajit Pawar had boarded a plane from Mumbai to Baramati, when the Learjet 45 aircraft carrying him crashed at Baramati airport. His security personnel and other staff members also died in the accident.














