Chennai: Two women travelling in the ladies coach of a suburban train from Tiruttani to Avadi on Tuesday night were attacked by a masked youth and relieved of their gold jewels weighing 34 sovereigns.
According to railway police, S. Bharathi (40) of Nemmelicheri and Prasanna (42) of Mosur near Arakkonam had boarded the suburban train at Tiruttani railway station at 9.05 pm.
Just as the train was departing from the railway station, two young men entered the ladies coach and scanned the passengers inside. While one of the men shifted to a general compartment, the other youth tied a handkerchief over his face and approached the seat where Bharathi and Prasanna were seated.
“He went up to them, punched one of the women on the face and demanded that they hand over their jewels. When one of them protested, he repeatedly punched her on the face and even slit her cheeks with a sharp weapon,” DSP M. Thillainatarajan said.
The women, who could not put up a struggle any longer, handed over the jewels to the thief. Police said while Prasanna lost 14 sovereigns of gold, Bharathi 20 sovereigns. The masked robber travelled with the women in the same coach until the train reached Arokkonam junction. As it slowed down to halt at the junction, he jumped off the train.
The women, one of whom was bleeding profusely, got off the train and approached the railway police at Arakkonam junction.
Bharathi was immediately rushed to the Arakkonam railway junction for first aid and was later shifted to the Government Stanley Hospital here for further treatment.
Railway protection force officials pointed out that the miscreants could have been from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh as similar incidents had been recorded at Renigunta and Puthur station limits.
The railway police have registered a case and are investigating. n P10
