In a dramatic act of bravery, Jalaja Suresh, vice-president of Neduvathoor Grama Panchayat and a seasoned post-office RD agent, single-handedly chased down and caught two women who had stolen nearly ₹2 lakh from her bag aboard a KSRTC bus.
The theft occurred around 2 pm Monday while Jalaja was travelling from Kundara to Kottarakkara carrying cash meant for her RD clients. As the bus neared Manikandan Althara, she stood up to disembark. Two women shadowed her movements, one asking deceptively, “Is this Chandamukku?” Raising her suspicion, they retreated—but soon after, she noticed her bag had been unzipped and the cash gone.
Without wasting a moment, Jalaja flagged an autorickshaw and pursued the bus to Chandamukku. Despite traffic delays, a quick-thinking traffic cop cleared the way. Spotting the suspects switching autos, Jalaja leapt onto the vehicle, grabbed them by their sarees, and pulled them out—bundles of stolen notes spilled onto the road during the scuffle.
The culprits, Shelvi (45) and her daughter Athini (27) from Gobichettipalayam, Tamil Nadu, are known serial offenders with prior cases across Kerala. They initially claimed the money “fell out” of Jalaja’s bag, but were soon found with hidden stashes of cash in their clothes.
Jalaja credited her swift action, and thanked the auto driver, police, and locals who supported her. The suspects were handed over to Kottarakkara police, and investigations are ongoing into their possible interstate theft ring.