KALYAN: In a successful attempt to avert his arrest, relatives of a chain snatcher pelted stones, threw bottles and even stabbed a cop who was part of a 15- member Bandra police team during a raid at Irani Basti in Ambivli on Wednesday night.Irani Basti has the reputation of being a “village of chain snatchers”.Police sub-inspector Bhimsen Gaikwad was stabbed with a sharp weapon. Two constables sustained injuries too.This is reportedly the ninth incident in which police officers have been assaulted in Irani Basti in the past few years.The mob comprising of 25 people, mostly women who were allegedly relatives and acquaintances of the accused, intercepted the policemen in order to help the accused escape.Following the incident, local Khadakpada police registered a case against 21 people under relevant Indian Penal Code sections and arrested five, including four women, for assaulting policemen.Khadakpada police officials said the team had received a tip-off that Abbas Ansari, accused of snatching chains of two women in Bandra recently, was hiding in Irani Basti.Twenty police officers, including two PSIs and and assistant police inspector knocked at the door of a house where Ansari was hiding on Wednesday night. His family called their relatives in the area and told them to attack the policemen. Meanwhile, a few of the cops managed to nab Ansari who was trying to flee.Soon, though, a mob surrounded the police. One man attacked Gaikwad with a sharp weapon and the women began to pelt stones and throw bottles on the team and ensured that the accused managed to flee.Narendra Patil, senior police inspector of Khadakpada police station, said, “Abbas Ansari is wanted in several other cases too.”