VELLORE: Four days after two women commuters onboard the Tiruttani-Arakkonam Electrical Multi Unit (EMU) train were assaulted and robbed of jewels and cash, an unidentified youth threw chilli powder on a 41-year-old Integral Coach Factory (ICF) staff’s face and snatched five sovereigns of jewels in Puliyamangalam Railway Station on Sunday.
The second incident within a span of four days, targeting women passengers, has created a sense of fear among the commuters in the Chennai-Arakkonam section. The incident in broad daylight has also raised questions about security arrangements.
B Selvarani of Puliyamangalam, recounting the shocking incident, told Express that she was happy that nothing happened to her brother’s daughter Prithi (8) and a neighbour’s daughter Rekha (20), who were accompanying her, and herself. “I lost five sovereigns of jewels. But I am happy nothing serious happened to neither me nor the two girls” said Selvarani, who is working in the ICF in Perambur in Chennai.
The incident took place between 11 am and 11.15 am when Selvarani along with her brother Stanley’s eight year-old daughter was waiting for the EMU train to Avadi. Selvarani’s neighbour’s daughter Rekha had come with her to the railway station to help her board the train. “I was taking my brother’s daughter with me to my colleague’s house in Sevapettai to attend a birthday function,” she said.
The three were sitting on the platform. A youth in his mid 20s came from behind and threw chilli powder on them. Before Selvarani realised what was happening, the miscreant snatched her chain and took to his heels. Rekha let out a scream in pain and fear after the chilli powder fell in her eyes. “The other commuters in the station immediately helped her wash her face,” said Stanley quoting the girl.
On seeing this, two persons selling snacks tried to catch the youth but he disappeared within a few minutes. The Government Railway Police attached to Arakkonam station filed a case in this regard and launched an investigation. The police suspect the hands of the accused who robbed two women commuters a few days ago, in this case too.