CHENNAI: A robbery bid by a motorcycle-borne youth left two persons dead and another injured at Foreshore Estate late on Monday night, even as police claimed that they have stepped up vigil in the city. The deceased were identified as Nandhini (24), a schoolteacher who was riding a motorcycle and Shaker (64), a retired State government employee who was out on a night walk, both belonging to Foreshore Estate. A girl named Najju, aka Gayathri (19), who is Nandhini’s relative, was injured. The robber was caught and thrashed by the public before being handed over to police.
The school teacher was riding a motorcycle along Marina Loop Road with Najju on the pillion. They were chasing a youth on a Pulsar bike with helmet on who had robbed their handbag which had cash of Rs 25,000 that was just withdrawn from an ATM. The incident occurred around 10.30 pm, less than 100 m from Nandhini’s house, police said. Her chase ended quickly as the robber pushed her vehicle down while he took a sharp turn into Srinivasapuram Beach Road. Losing control over her bike, Nandhini went off the Marina Loop Road, which is now being extended and landed on a stone pillar near which Shaker was standing. All three suffered grievous injuries.
As Srinivasapuram dwellers had blocked the path, the robber took a U-turn and returned to the Marina Loop Road when he was caught with the bag. Passersby, who had alerted the ambulance service and the police, returned the stolen bag to Najju much to her relief. She consoled Nandhini saying the entire cash was intact.
While waiting for an ambulance, the crowd swelled and the public began thrashing the robber, later identified as Karuna aka Karunakaran (24) of Red Hills. Later, a patrol vehicle arrived. Karuna was found to be in an inebriated condition. The crowd set the robber's bike on fire even as the injured were moved to Government Royapettah hospital. Doctors declared Nandhini brought dead and Shaker succumbed to injuries soon after. Najju is being treated for injuries.
Karunakaran had been booked for offences of robbery and culpable homicide not amounting to murder and has been admitted to GRH. The bodies of the two victims were handed over to the kin after post-mortem.
