Shristi lodges an FIR at Chowk police station and (above) Akhilesh Verma in custody on Friday. Pictures by Sachin

Patna, Nov. 18: Karate skills learnt in school today came in handy for a college girl to teach a purse-snatcher the lesson of his life. The lungpower of her cousin ensured the unscrupulous man landed behind the bars.

The second-year BCom student of Patna College, Shristi, gave her tormenter, Akhilesh Verma, a tight kick in stomach when the latter tried to choke her at the Chowk Shikarpur area around 8.45am. Shristi’s cousin, Priyanka, raised an alarm. Hearing her cry for help, the residents of the area rushed to the spot and intercepted Akhilesh. He was handed over to police later. An FIR has been lodged against him at Chowk police station.

Shristi did her schooling from the city-based Jesus and Mary School. She learnt a few karate moves there.

Sources said a brother of Shristi dropped her and Priyanka, also a second-year BCom student of Patna College, on the main road in the Chowk Shikarpur area for tuition. When the duo walked into the lane leading to their coaching centre, Akhilesh walked down hurriedly towards them.

Shristi, a resident of the Chainpura area, told The Telegraph: “As we entered the lane and started walking towards the coaching centre just metres away, a man (later identified as Akhilesh) started walking briskly towards us. Before we could realise anything, he pulled my purse.”

As Shristi clung on to her purse, Akhilesh tried to choke her so that her grip on the bag loosened. But Shristi did not give in. The self-defence moves of karate learnt in school days helped her get rid of Akhilesh, a resident of the Khajekala area.

“Shristi kicked the man hard in his stomach, compelling him to leave the purse in pain. Priyanka, meanwhile, raised an alarm. Hearing her voice, the residents of the area ran to the spot and caught hold of the person. He was later taken to the police station,” Santosh Kumar, the father of Shristi, said.

An officer of Chowk police station said: “Akhilesh has been booked under the charges of eve-teasing and attempt to loot. Initially he said he had bumped into the girls by mistake. But he admitted later that his motive was to snatch the purse of the girl. The girls acted bravely and thwarted his bid.”

Detention

More than 12 persons were detained today for loitering on the campus of Ganga Devi College and allegedly disturbing students.

“We learnt from a student over phone that a group of men, all friends of the college professors’ drivers, were disturbing the pupils. The girls could not complain to the college authorities fearing the teachers’ wrath. One among them mustered courage and informed the police,” Patna city superintendent of police (central) Shivdeep Lande told The Telegraph.

“The detained persons were later let off with a warning. The college authorities have been asked to ensure the teachers’ drivers stayed outside the college campus,” the officer added.