45-year-old UP woman fights snatchers for 23 minutes; 2 arrested after encounter

AGRA: A 45-year-old woman fought two bike-borne snatchers for nearly 23 minutes after they tried to snatch her bag in Etah's Jaithra area late May 6, and police arrested the accused after an encounter early Saturday, officials said. CCTV footage showed Anita Devi being punched, pushed into a drain and dragged along the road before the accused fled when people nearby started moving towards the spot.

Anita was returning from Agra with her son Ritik, 23, after taking him to a doctor when the incident took place. The mother-son duo got down at Jaithra bus stand and started walking home around 11pm. "My son walked ahead quickly, while I was slowly making my way home through the lane. At a turn of the lane, two bike-borne men coming from behind targeted me," she said.



Police later identified the accused as Mohd Armaan, who was riding pillion, and Shakeel Khan, who was riding the motorcycle. Anita and CCTV footage indicated that Armaan got off the bike and tried to snatch her bag, but when she resisted, he punched her in the face. Even after the assault, she held on to the bag, following which he allegedly threw her on the road, pushed her into a drain and continued trying to snatch it.

The footage showed the accused dragging Anita along the road, but she did not loosen her grip on the bag. Two people standing about 200 metres away heard her screams and started moving towards the spot, after which the accused fled on the motorcycle. Police later registered an FIR at Jaithra police station on May 8 on Anita's complaint under BNS sections 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt) and 304 (snatching).

Etah SSP Elamaran G said the woman's courage sent a strong message on women's safety and resilience. "Women's safety is the top priority of police and administration. Strict action is being taken against criminals to ensure a fear-free environment," he said after felicitating Anita with a shawl, bouquet and memento on Saturday.

Police formed teams and scanned around 100 CCTV cameras to identify the accused. On Saturday, police arrested Armaan and Shakeel after an encounter, in which one of them was shot. Police found two .315 bore country-made pistols, two live cartridgess, Rs 3,500 in cash and the motorcycle used in the crime.

(With inputs from Vikas Dubey in Etah)