Team Herald
MARGAO: There was a furore in Murida, Fatorda after a spate of chain snatching incidents and intimidation of women and children allegedly by anti-social elements loitering in the residential area.
In the last two weeks, there have been two incidents of chan snatching. In one such case reported on Wednesday a woman travelling on a two wheelers was stopped by two men on a bike and snatched her chain..
One of the victims of chain snatching named Francesca said two boys called her ‘aunty’ while they were passing by. She slowed down her two wheeler and turned towards them after which the boys snatched her chain.
The force at which they pulled the chain Francesca lost balance and fell down. Sudin Sudhir Lolayekar rushed to her help. While Lolayekar urged the Fatorda police to take action and increase patrolling, Franseca said she had filed a police complaint.
However, the police said they were not aware of the incident even though videos of the incidents, which were caught on CCTV, have gone viral.
Later local municipal councilor Sweta Lotlikar emphasised that the police should look into this issue and spoke about other incidents that have made the women and children of the residential area feel unsafe. She spoke about an incident where a lady and a child passing by the area were shown a knife by two men on a bike. She urged the public to remain alert.
Locals have been for years trying to get the attention of the police to take action into the behaviour of anti-social elements, who gather at night in these residential areas to consume alcohol and also switch off streetlights.
Lolayekar further added that these chain snatching incidents took place in broad daylight and that shows how the criminal elements are operating without any fear for law.
