A gold chain theft attempt during the Navaratri celebrations at the Ambalpady temple was thwarted on Wednesday evening after an elderly devotee raised an alarm, leading to the swift recovery of her ornament and the arrest of two women suspects.
Incident during festive rush
The incident occurred during peak hours of the festival rush when the victim realised her gold chain had gone missing and suspected two women standing nearby. On checking, the ornament was reportedly found in their possession.
As word of the theft spread, an angry crowd — particularly women devotees — gathered around the suspects. Several attempted to assault the accused, and the situation threatened to escalate into mob violence.
Intervention prevents mob attack
Local social worker Vishu Shetty stepped in to defuse the tension. The two accused, who claimed to be unwell, were taken by Shetty to the district hospital in his own vehicle for medical attention before being handed over to the police.
Shetty also appealed to the public to exercise restraint in such cases.
“In cases of robbery or theft, if the accused are caught by the public, they must be handed over directly to the police. If people resort to assault, the accused can also file a complaint against them. Moreover, the police are required to send injured suspects for medical examination, and those responsible for assault could face arrest,” he explained.
Police action and warnings
Police have confirmed that the women are in custody and that the investigation is underway. The recovered gold chain has been returned to the elderly devotee.
Authorities also highlighted that such incidents of petty theft are common during crowded religious gatherings. They urged temple-goers to remain vigilant and immediately report any suspicious activity to volunteers or police personnel deployed at the venue.