Police Arrest Two Women for Gold Chain Snatching at Udaipur Rath Yatra

Agartala: Police arrested two women in Udaipur following a series of gold chain snatchings at the Rath Yatra festival. Thieves targeted more than 16 women during the event on Friday. Thousands of devotees gathered at the historic Jagannath Bari in Gomati district for the fair and procession. Three victims reported thefts at the fairground before the chariot moved. Another 13 women lost their jewelry as the crowd surged toward Mahadev Bari.

A police team led by RK Pur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sanjib Laskar and Sub-Inspector Biplab Das tracked the suspects. They detained Sabitri Naidu, 60, and Priya Das, 45, at the Mahadev Bari premises. Both women live in the Borabazar area of Guwahati, Assam. Officers recovered nine gold chains weighing 10 bhori. The loot holds an estimated market value of Rs 22 lakh.

Bijoy Debbarma, In-charge Superintendent of Police for Gomati and Sepahijala districts, believes the pair belongs to a larger criminal syndicate. He noted that other suspects fled through the dense crowd. Bijoy Debbarma said, "Preliminary investigation suggested that the two women were part of an organised chain-snatching gang." Police continue to hunt for the remaining members.

The court remanded the suspects to judicial custody on Saturday. Officials expect the next hearing on July 20. Detectives are still working to recover the other stolen ornaments.