A woman has reported the theft of her gold chain after she travelled in an e-rickshaw in Raipur, with police suspecting that the crowded vehicle may have been used to carry out the alleged theft. The incident took place on August 18, when the woman was travelling towards her office after heavy rain forced her to switch from her two-wheeler to an e-rickshaw.
The complainant, Manju Lata Sahu, an assistant director posted with the Samagra Shiksha office, approached Kotwali police after discovering that her gold chain was missing. Police have registered a case and started investigating the incident. The exact identity of the person responsible has not yet been established.
Six women boarded e-rickshaw
According to the complaint, Sahu, who lives in Janta Colony in Gudhiyari, had left for work on her Activa with an acquaintance on August 18. Because of heavy rain, she parked the vehicle near the Jail Road bus stop and decided to continue her journey by e-rickshaw.
She asked the driver to take her to Board Office. The e-rickshaw travelled through Khalsa School before reaching Ambedkar Chowk. At that point, around six women reportedly boarded the vehicle.
The driver then continued towards Akashvani Chowk and Jogi Bangla before proceeding in the direction of the Women's Polytechnic College.
Chain missing after crowding
Sahu told police that the e-rickshaw became increasingly crowded after the women boarded. Passengers reportedly faced difficulty finding enough space to sit, and there was some pushing and jostling inside the vehicle.
She eventually got down near the Pensionbada Ham Clinic at around 10:05 am. After the e-rickshaw left, she checked her neck and realised that her gold chain was missing.
The complainant suspects that one of the women travelling in the e-rickshaw may have taken advantage of the crowd and confusion to remove the chain. The stolen jewellery is reported to weigh approximately one tola.
Police begin investigation
Following the complaint, Kotwali police have begun examining the circumstances surrounding the alleged theft. Investigators are expected to check CCTV footage from locations along the e-rickshaw's route and nearby areas.
Police are also trying to establish the identity of the e-rickshaw driver and the women who boarded the vehicle at Ambedkar Chowk. Their statements and other available evidence could help establish what happened inside the vehicle.
Gang angle yet to be established
The incident has raised concerns about the possible presence of women involved in chain-snatching or theft in crowded public transport. However, police have not yet established that the suspects belong to an organised gang.
The alleged involvement of a women's gang will only become clear after investigators identify the passengers and examine CCTV footage and other evidence.
For now, police are treating the incident as a theft case and continuing efforts to identify the accused and recover the stolen jewellery.
