A brave effort and prompt action by an auto-rickshaw driver foiled a snatching bid against his passengers – an Afghan family – at Mandir Marg here earlier this week.
Kusheshwar Yadav’s chase ensured that not only the snatched purse was restored to its owners, but also one of the accused was arrested. A case has been registered based on Yadav’s complaint.
Bike-borne assailants
The incident took place on Monday when the Afghan couple got into the auto at Karol Bagh to go to Lajpat Nagar.
Around 1 p.m. near Valmiki temple on Mandir Marg, two men on a motorbike came close to the auto and snatched the purse of the Afghan woman.
As they screamed for help, the bikers sped away. Not ready to give up, Yadav allegedly followed the bikers and accelerated the auto-rickshaw to reach their bike and hit the duo from behind, he told the police.
As the duo fell on the footpath, Yadav allegedly ran towards them even as the Afghan couple raised an alarm. The pillion rider threw the purse and fled, but the rider could not move as his leg got stuck in the bike. Seeing this, some locals gathered at the spot and before the police could reach, they thrashed the snatcher.
“The couple was returning after visiting a doctor in Karol Bagh. They were unable to speak either Hindi or English. The woman was panicking and started crying after her bag was snatched as it had several important documents and money. I took them to a police station and assisted them in all possible ways,” said Yadav.
The arrested snatcher has been identified as Salman, a resident of Daryaganj. The bike used in the crime has also been impounded. His associate has been identified and will be arrested soon, said a senior police officer, adding that the victims had conveyed through gestures that the driver helped them get the bag back.
