It took a few minutes for the applause to die down when it was announced in front of about 2,500 children at an assembly of a city school on Monday that the brave act of two of its students had saved their mother.
Soon, the heroic act of S. Venkatalakshmi (17) and Kanishka (11), studying Standards XII and VI respectively, at the Kamala Niketan Montessori School, became the talking point among children, teachers and non-teaching staff of the school. The incident had taken place a couple of weeks back and came to light following the public announcement in the school.
As usual on a week day, Venkatalakshmi had returned home at Srinivasa Nagar after attending the school, along with her sister, and was taking a nap in her room. On hearing the screams of her mother Suba (40), a home maker, she rushed to the main hall, where a thief was holding her sister Kanishka at knife-point threatening her mother to hand over the 10-sovereign gold chain that she was wearing.
Venkatalakshmi had initially tried attacking the thief but to no avail. In a swift and inspired reaction, she then rushed to the kitchen to return with some chilli powder and threw it on the face of the thief. Seizing the opportunity, Kanishka and Suba too joined her. Even as the thief tried to escape the trio had managed to pin him down. Subsequently, the thief identified as Rajesh Kumar of Ayyarmalai near Kulithalai, was handed over to the Woraiyur police.
“It was really a brave act. The thief was caught only because of intelligent act of Venkatalashmi, who was ably supported by Suba and Kanishka,” said K. Kennedy, Inspector, Woraiyur Police Station.
“I didn’t have any other option to save my mother and sister. I was aware of the effects of chilli powder and it worked very well,” Venkatalakshmi told The Hindu .
Suba, who sustained injury on her finger due to the attack by the thief, is yet to recover from the shock. “I am alive today because of my daughters. I am proud of them,” she said.
