CHENNAI: In a brazen daylight robbery, a young woman undergoing civil service exam coaching was robbed of seven sovereign gold chains worth approximately Rs 8 lakh on the bustling GST Road in Tambaram on Tuesday afternoon. The woman, however, put up a fierce fight, leading to the eventual recovery of her jewellery.
The incident occurred around 1 pm near the Hindu Mission Hospital signal. The 22-year-old woman, a resident of Kooduvanchery, was walking towards the Tambaram bus stand after her class when a man wearing a lungi and shirt suddenly accosted her. He allegedly snatched her gold thaali (mangalsutra) and chain.
Displaying remarkable courage, the shocked woman resisted the assailant and raised an alarm. Her screams alerted fellow pedestrians on the busy road, who immediately gave chase. In the ensuing scuffle, the robber managed to break the chains but was forced to flee towards the railway boundary to escape the pursuing public.
In a twist, while fleeing, the robber reportedly threw the broken chains onto the roadside. The pursuers, upon returning, were informed by another bystander about this act. A search led to the recovery of the chains from the sandy margin of the highway. The woman, who was until then in distress, was overcome with relief.
Sustaining injuries to her neck and hand during the struggle, the woman was later taken to the nearby hospital for treatment. She is reported to be safe now.
The Tambaram police have registered a case and initiated a thorough investigation. Police assume that the robber threw away the gold as a tactic to deny possession if caught by the public, with a plan for an accomplice to retrieve them later.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the area, raising serious concerns about public safety, especially for women, on a key national highway during peak hours. Locals have expressed anger, citing a spate of similar chain-snatching, phone theft, and even armed robberies in the vicinity of the Tambaram bus stand, railway station, and highway. They allege that police patrolling and preventive measures in the area remain insufficient despite repeated incidents.
Police have assured the public of intensified efforts to apprehend the accused and enhance security in the zone.