Jurisdiction issue gives tough time for chain snatching victims

Two cases of chain snatching that happened on Thursday night were classic examples of the kind. Sadly, the victims were attacked by the snatchers in both the cases, but the cops refused to take their complaints citing jurisdiction. In the first case, a couple was attacked by a duo at Bharathi Nagar, Korattur. 

According to sources, Preetha (36) and her husband, Robert, residents of Kallikuppam, Ambattur, were riding on ar two-wheeler through Bharathi Nagar when a duo on a two-wheeler tried to snatch the chain of Preetha at knife-point. When the couple resisted, one of the assailants slashed the neck of Preetha and also attacked Robert. 

However, the duo abandoned their attempt as those in the vicinity rushed to the spot. When Preetha and Robert approached the Korattur police, they were told to go to the Puzhal police authorities. Ironically, the Puzhal police returned them saying that the scene of crime was within Korattur police limits. When contacted the Korattur inspector Raja said that the incident occurred in the Puzhal police jurisdiction. 

“But, when the couple went to Puzhal station, there were no officials So, they came back to us and we registered the case, thinking that the investigation could be later handed over to them,” Raja said. In another case on 10th Avenue, Indra Nagar, a flower vendor and her auto driver husband were assaulted by chain snatchers around midnight. 

Sources said Lakshmi and her husband Venakateshan (40), were closing the shop when two men on a bike came there and the pillion rider tried to snatch the five-sovereign chain of Lakshmi. But, she resisted and the snatchers managed to flee with a portion of her chain. 

When Lakshmi and Venkateshan went to the Tiruvanmiyur police station to lodge a complaint, they were told to go to Adyar station citing jurisdiction. When the couple went to Adyar, they were asked to go back to Tiruvanmiyur. 

Finally, after a lot of pleading, the Tiruvanmiyur police accepted the complaint. However, both the Tiruvanmiyur inspector and Adyar inspector claimed that that the incident did not happen in their jurisdiction.  

Meanwhile, the Shastri Nagar police on Thursday arrested a 37-year-old man for snatching the chain of a morning walker at Padmanabhan Nagar, Adyar. Kannan alias Kozhi Kannan, a resident of Tiruvalluvar Nagar, Perungudi was arrested following a complaint from Sumit Sharma, a resident of 5th Street, Padmanabha Nagar, Adyar.  

According to the complainant, a man on a bike, wearing helmet, snatched his two-sovereign chain when he was on a morning walk near his house on Tuesday. 

Shastri Nagar police after checking the CCTV footage in the locality identified the culprit as Kannan of Perungudi and arrested him.  The chain was also recovered from him. Police have also seized a bike from Kannan. Police said Kannan was involved in many theft cases and was also detained under Goondas Act.