Chennai city seems far from safe for women. After Swathi’s gruesome murder at Nungambakkam railway station, a 24-year-old school teacher, Nandini, has lost her life chasing a robber. On Monday night, V. Nandini along with her cousin A. Najju alias Gayatri (19) went to an ATM on Santhome High Road on her scooter. After withdrawing Rs. 25,000, they were returning home when N. Karunakaran, who was drunk, snatched the bag from Gayathri and tried to escape on his motorcycle.
According to police, Nandini was in pursuit when her two-wheeler hit a stone on the Srinivasapuram beach. She sustained head injuries and died on the way to hospital. Saakar (65), a bystander, who was hit by the robber’s motorcycle as he tried to escape, also died. The residents, on hearing the commotion, caught the offender, beat him up and handed him over to the police. In a fit of rage, they burnt his bike. Ms. Najju, who was riding pillion, sustained minor injuries and is undergoing treatment at the Government Royapettah Hospital. Initial investigation has revealed that the accused, Karunakaran, was a resident of Sengaliamman Koil Street in Red Hills. The city police have filed two cases under Section 392 (for robbery) and 304 (II) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code. The family of Nandini, who was working as a teacher in a private school in Neelankarai, is shocked. Selvi, mother of the victim, said her daughter was the sole breadwinner of the family, as her son Vignesh has just completed college.
24-year-old woman fell after her bike hit a stone; bystander rammed by suspect’s vehicle also dies
