Date:23/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/23/stories/2008082360160500.htm

Tamil Nadu

Witnesses will not be disturbed, says Jangid

Special Correspondent

He said how involvement of people helped to nab offenders

In Thiruninravur, five men rushed to the help of a woman when two persons snatched chain from her
“People helping accident victims will not be harassed in the name of investigations”

TAMBARAM: Urging people to speak out boldly to the police if they witnessed a crime or an accident, Chennai Suburban Police Commissioner S. R. Jangid on Friday said investigations would not cause any disturbance to them.

Talking to reporters, Mr. Jangid cited a few instances in the past week that were a pointer to the involvement of the general public and victims themselves acting swiftly to nab offenders.

In Thiruninravur, five men rushed to the help of a 21-year-old woman from whom a gold chain was snatched by two persons, including a juvenile in conflict with the law, on Wednesday. Archana was returning home around 1.30 p.m. from a computer coaching class when two youths intercepted her near the railway station.

They snatched a gold chain from Archana and tried to flee when the five men, Sribalan, Bhagavathi, P.Sadasivam, A.Mohan Kumar and S.Selvaprakash, rushed to the spot listening to her cries for help.

They chased the offenders, nabbed and handed them over to police. The police said S.Muthupandi (22) was one of the accused. Mr. Jangid recalled that earlier this week, five youths nabbed a pickpocket and handed him over to the police.

On Thursday, a Sri Lankan national settled in Australia was robbed of Rs.2.79 lakh in cash by his car driver but he managed to pursue the driver and retrieved the cash, Mr. Jangid said.

K.Sivakumar was working in a private airliner and was travelling in a car with the cash. At Manapakkam on Mount-Poonamallee Road, the driver Raju stopped the vehicle, pushed Sivakumar out and sped away in the car with the cash. Sivakumar hired another car and pursued Raju and in the meanwhile, informed the police control. The car was intercepted at a police checkpost near Krishnagiri and Raju was arrested. The cash, concealed inside the door, was recovered intact.

‘Minimum force’

Mr.Jangid said victims, witnesses and the public had all the right to nab criminals commiting crimes and he added that public had right to exercise “minimum force.”

Further, people helping victims of road accidents would not be harassed in the name of investigations.

“Witnesses would be put through very little disturbance when they record their statements to police. If they insist, we will not even ask them to come to the police station,” Mr. Jangid said.