In yet another brazen act of street crime, two women were critically injured after being targeted by bike-borne miscreants on Raisen Road under Govindpura Police Station limits. The incident occurred less than 24 hours after a high-profile robbery involving Manoj Verma near the Chief Minister’s residence. The crime took place at approximately 9:45 pm on April 10. The victims, Jyoti Thakur, a resident of Pushpa Nagar and her friend Kasturi Rathore, were returning home on an Activa scooter. As they reached TRT Market area, two unidentified men on a motorcycle approached from behind and made a violent grab for the bag slung over Rathore’s shoulder. The force of the jerk caused the scooter to lose balance and crash onto the asphalt. In the resulting fall, Thakur sustained a fracture to her right shoulder, while Rathore suffered severe trauma to her head and face. Rathore has received eight stitches on her face and due to severity of her condition, has been admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for 48-hour observation.

 

Escape Under Cover of Darkness : According to Govindpura Station House Officer (SHO) Avdhesh Singh Tomar, assailants utilised the speed of their vehicle and darkness to flee. The stolen bag contained approximately Rs 1,200 in cash, a mobile phone and essential identification documents. The victims stated that the attack was so sudden and speed of the motorcycle so high that they were unable to note down the registration number. Local bystanders rushed the women to the hospital immediately following the crash. On Sunday, Cabinet Minister Vishwas Sarang visited the hospital to check on the condition of injured women. During the visit, Ram Jeevan Rathore, husband of the victim in the ICU, expressed deep resentment over the police’s failure to secure the streets. He remarked that such an atmosphere of insecurity for women had never been witnessed in Bhopal before.

 

He demanded exemplary action against the criminals to deter future occurrences. Residents have also alleged a total lack of police patrolling on main arterial roads during night hours. SHO Avdhesh Singh Tomar assured that a formal case has been registered. “A dedicated team is currently scanning CCTV footage from cameras installed around the crime scene. Several suspects have been rounded up for questioning as we work to identify the vehicle used in the crime,” Tomar added. The surge in loot and snatching incidents in the capital city continues unabated, leaving citizens in a state of constant fear.