New Delhi: In a serious lapse of security in the national capital, Congress MP Sudha Ramakrishnan became a victim of chain snatching early Monday morning near Tamil Nadu Bhawan in Delhi’s high-security Chanakyapuri area. The incident has triggered a political firestorm, raising fresh concerns over women’s safety in the capital.
Around 6:00 am, Ramakrishnan was out for a walk with DMK MP Rajathi when a man on a scooter, wearing a helmet, swiftly snatched her gold chain and fled. The sudden attack not only left her shocked but also caused minor injuries to her neck as her clothes were also tugged in the process.
In her letter addressed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and Delhi Police, the MP narrated the traumatic sequence. “I was walking when the accused came close on a two-wheeler. As I tried to give him space, he suddenly snatched my chain and tore my clothes. I screamed for help but no one came forward. A police vehicle nearby didn’t respond,” she wrote.
The incident, which happened in one of Delhi’s most protected diplomatic zones, has reignited criticism against the Centre, with opposition leaders slamming the “failure of the double-engine government” in ensuring basic safety for women. “If this can happen to a sitting MP, imagine the plight of ordinary women,” a Congress spokesperson said.
Delhi Police has filed an FIR and initiated an investigation. However, the case has spotlighted the growing public frustration over the capital’s rising street crime — from chain and mobile snatching to vehicle theft — which many residents claim often go unreported due to police inaction.
