Thief shocks senior citizen with chilli powder, snatches chain

MUMBAI: When 64-year-old Rajamma Janardhan went for her daily darshan to the local temple, little did she suspect the fate that awaited her. On Thursday evening, a miscreant threw a fistful of chilli powder at the senior citizen, punched her in the face and snatched her chain. The shocked Janardhan raised an alarm but could do little to stop the thief.
A resident of Chedda Nagar in Chembur, Janardhan had gone to the local Siddhivinayak temple (a short distance from her house) as part of her daily routine.When she returned around 7.30 pm and was climbing the stairs, she heard somebody call out to her. Thinking it was one of the neighbour's children, she turned around. A man in his early 20s took her by surprise, threw a fistful of chilli powder in her face and punched her before snatching her gold chain.
Janardhan suffered bruises when she was dragged down a few stairs. She also has a cut lip and swollen cheeks thanks to the punch he landed on her face. While Janardhan could not see the miscreant properly, she did make out that he was in his early 20s. "My mother raised an alarm, but the watchman was not around and none of the neighbours heard her either. None of us were at home at that time,'' said Bindu, her daughter. A case has been registered with the Tilak Nagar police and they are on the lookout for the thief.