A serene religious gathering in Surat's upscale Vesu locality was shattered by a series of audacious thefts, leading to the arrest of three women by the city's crime branch. The incident, which saw seven elderly women lose their gold chains collectively valued at a staggering Rs 6.77 lakh, occurred during a devotional discourse.
The Disturbing Discovery at the Discourse
The thefts took place on December 27 at the Nandini-1 Apartment complex, where a Bhagwat Katha was being held from December 26 to January 1. According to the initial complaint filed by 58-year-old resident Dropadi Gurnani, she attended the session around 3 pm and returned home by 7 pm. It was only then she realized her 22-gram gold chain, worth Rs 1.25 lakh, was missing.
A frantic search of the pandal and society premises ensued. This search revealed a more extensive crime, as six other women discovered they had also been victimized. The other victims, all attendees of the same religious event, were identified as:
- Premalata Agrawal (62)
- Dropadi Kejriwal (71)
- Premlata Modi (65)
- Pushpadevi Agrawal (71)
- Jayashree Chevli (68)
- Sumitradevi Agrawal (73)
All victims were residents of the same apartment complex or nearby societies.
Police Action and Arrest of the Accused
Following the complaint at the Vesu police station, the Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) took over the investigation. Leveraging a mix of human intelligence and technical surveillance, the DCB team zeroed in on the suspects. In a swift operation on Tuesday night, they arrested three women in connection with the serial thefts.
Police Inspector Jignesh Patel explained the modus operandi. He stated that the accused specifically targeted the religious gathering, exploiting the large, engrossed crowd. "While the women were deeply immersed in the spiritual discourse, the thieves seized the opportunity to stealthily snatch their gold chains," Patel said. The thieves capitalized on the devotees' focus and the resulting lack of vigilance.
Community Shock and Police Advisory
The incident has sent waves of anxiety through the local community, where such religious events are common and considered safe spaces. It highlights how criminals are devising new methods to target individuals in crowded yet trusted environments. The police have advised the public, especially women wearing valuable jewellery, to remain cautious in large gatherings, regardless of the setting.
The successful crackdown by the DCB within days of the crime showcases the effectiveness of coordinated investigative techniques. The arrested accused are currently being interrogated to uncover potential links to other similar thefts in the region and to recover the stolen jewellery. The case remains under active investigation as authorities work to provide justice to the affected families.
