Man snatches chain from woman on train, nabbed

Police identified the accused as A Rakesh Mandal (24) of Kolkata, who was arrested with the help of CCTV footage retrieved from the station and shops at Elephant Gate.

The incident happened around 6.10 am when retired ADSP Nandakumar and his wife Sarala boarded the Kovai Express. Sarala who was seated near the window at D10 coach was suddenly relieved of her two-sovereign chain by a man who was standing on the platform. She screamed for help, but in vain as the train started moving out of the railway station.

After Nandakumar alerted police over GRP helpline, police collected the CCTV footage and found a well-dressed man getting out of the station through the gate on Wall Tax Road. CCTV footage from the shops on the road were checked to trace his trail and Rakesh Mandal was secured within three hours.

Investigation revealed that Rakesh had come to see off two of his friends who were travelling on the same train. “After his friends boarded the unreserved coach, he snatched the chain and boarded two coaches behind. He got off the train at the end of the platform and went out through the exit gate on Wall Tax Road,” said police.

Railway police immediately alerted Coimbatore counterparts to secure his friends, but the effort was not successful. Police said that the trio were staying in a rented premise in Kerala.