Maharashtra has proposed a harsher law against chainsnatchers, with maximum punishment of 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 25,000.The state government wants to add Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 379A(1) and 379B to the IPC Section 379 currently applied to book chain-snatchers.The proposal is scheduled to be cleared by the State Cabinet on Tuesday. Presently, chainsnatching is classified under theft, and the offenders are booked under Section 379, which carries a maximum imprisonment of three years. With sections 379A and 379B added, it will no longer be a bailable offence.According to 379A (snatching), the convict will be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term not less than five years, which may extend to 10 years, besides a fine of Rs 25,000. As per 379B (snatching and use of force/weapon), the offender will be punished with rigorous imprisonment not less than 10 years but may extend to 14 years.There has been a rise in the number of chain-snatching cases in the city, especially the Western suburbs. There have also been cases wherein the victim suffered injuries, but the police were not able to add harsher sections.In October last year, Haryana became the first state in India to add IPC sections 379A and B to snatching cases.Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis confirmed to Mumbai Mirror that the proposal was “under consideration”, even as additional chief secretary (Home) KP Bakshi said a spurt in chainsnatching cases made the government think of a harsher law. “There have been several cases (of chain-snatching), many in broad daylight. We have decided to add the sections to bring about a harsher law,” he said.The idea to introduce a harsher law against such crimes was first proposed by Director General of Police Praveen Dixit. “Even after effective policing, the menace of chain-snatching is alarming, and it is seen across the country,” Dixit told Mumbai Mirror.A senior cop this newspaper spoke to said it was very difficult to bring chain-snatchers to book. “Because it is considered a case of ‘simple theft’, the offenders get away with little punishment, some even as less as three months,” the officer said.Citizens welcomed the move, saying anti-social elements are currently having a free run. Kalyan resident Manju Singh, a victim of chain-snatching, said, “I lost my mangalsutra to two motorbike-riding thieves. I have no idea whether they were arrested.”