In a rare instance of swift action, police on Monday morning recovered a gold chain within minutes after a youth had snatched it from a woman near Kargil Chowk.

The 56-year-old victim, Jyotsna, was robbed of the chain with a locket around 6am when she was on her way to the Gandhi Maidan from her residence at Bakarganj for a morning walk. Soon after she raised an alarm, the cops manning a nearby “May I Help You” kiosk chased the 22-year-old youth. Barely 800m away from the theft spot they intercepted the chain thief, recovered the chain and gave it back to Jyotsna.

Jyotsna, a homemaker, praised the men in uniform for their quick reaction.

“Had they not swung into action, the youth would have escaped with my chain,” she said, thanking the cops on duty.

“The quick action has changed my perception about the police. I would also like to thank the senior police officers of the city,” she said.

Jyotsna said the youth, later identified as Ashwini Kumar alias Sonu, suddenly surfaced and snatched her gold chain. As soon as she cried for help, the policemen deployed at the “May I Help You” kiosk near the Kargil Chowk rushed to her and enquired about the incident.

Within a few moments, assistant sub-inspector Bal Mukund Singh and constable Barku Hansda started running towards the direction Sonu fled after snatching the chain. They intercepted him near a Kali temple, where he was loitering suspiciously. The chain was recovered after he was frisked.

By then, two other personnel — Vijay Kumar Pandey and Sheela Kumari — reached the spot with the victim, who not only identified the snatcher but also her chain.

Sonu, a resident of Gulbigaht Mahendru, later confessed to have been involved in three chain thefts.

Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Manu Maharaj said the policemen who nabbed the criminal would be suitably rewarded.

blow by blow

Time: 6am
Locale: Near Kargil Chowk
Action: Twenty-two-year-old
Ashwini Kumar alias Sonu, a resident of Gublighat at Mahendru, snatches gold chain of 56-year-old Bakerganj resident Jyotsna and flees
Reaction: Jyotsna screams. Two assistant sub-inspectors, Balmukund Singh and
Vijay Kumar, constable Harku Hansda and lady constable Sheela Kumari, manning
a May I Help You kiosk near Kargil Chowk, talk to Jyotsna briefly and chase Sonu. The youth caught near Kali Mandir, 800m away from the theft spot. Chain recovered

Can swift action of police help check crime? Tell ttbihar@abp.in