One held for snatch attempt on karateka in Odisha capital

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Sep 30:

Local police today arrested one of the three accused in connection with the snatching of mobile phone and gold chain from a brave girl who fought the snatchers and retrieved her belongings in Odisha capital five days ago.

Capital police today arrested Purnadutt Mohanty, said to be the prime accused, for his alleged involvement in the snatching on Sunday evening.

While Mohanty has been arrested, his two other associates are still at large.

The anti-socials had targeted Chinmayee Bhuyan while she was speaking on her mobile phone. Chinmayee was on her way home at 9.30 pm on Sunday when three bike-borne miscreants attacked her near Utkal Karate School in Unit 9 area here.

The assailants snatched her mobile phone and gold jewellery while she was speaking over mobile phone. She chased the miscreants for almost three kilometers till Unit II area and intercepted the trio followed by a bloody fight.

The lone girl dashed her scooter with the snatchers’ bike owing which they fell down. She took on the criminals and forced them to retreat leaving their bike on the spot.

Following her brave attempt, Mayor Anant Narayan Jena and Sports and Youth Services Minister Sudam Marandi had felicited her.

Notably, she is trained in martial arts and self-defence techniques which came in handy for her at the times of urgency. The woman karateka has also represented Odisha at the Senior National Karate Championship last year.