Police Department Staffer Injured in Struggle with Train Station Phone Snatcher

Violent Theft Attempt at Tambaram Sanatorium

Aadolin Prabha, a 25-year-old staff member of the Chennai Police Forensic Science Department, suffered serious head and facial trauma on Sunday evening. The incident occurred approximately at 8 p.m. as a suburban train departed from the Tambaram Sanatorium railway station. According to investigators, a man positioned on the platform attempted to seize Prabha's mobile phone while the carriages were in motion. Prabha, a Tenkasi native residing in a Lighthouse area hostel, refused to let go of the device. The physical struggle caused her to lose balance and fall onto the tracks.

Arrest and Aftermath

Bystanders at the station acted quickly to rescue the injured woman and detain the perpetrator. The public held the suspect, identified as 30-year-old Ajay Nayak from Assam, and handed him over to the Railway Protection Force. The Tambaram Government Railway Police confirmed Nayak's arrest, noting he appeared to be intoxicated during the robbery attempt. Medical responders initially transported Prabha to Tambaram Government Hospital before her transfer to a private facility for specialized care.

Family Crisis at the Police Station

The situation escalated when Nayak's wife arrived at the police station with their infant child to demand his release. Police reports indicate that the family was in the process of traveling back to their home state of Assam when the crime occurred. Findings from the investigation include these key details:

• Officers prevented a suicide attempt by the suspect's wife after her demands for his freedom were rejected.
• The woman and child were released following mandatory counseling sessions.
• Law enforcement cited the suspect's intoxication as a contributing factor in the incident.

Authorities continue to monitor Prabha's recovery as the legal proceedings against Nayak move forward.

Source: The Hindu — Cities