Locals chase, catch chain breakers after attack on woman in Kompally

The accused was involved in the chain snatching case at Kompally, Petbasheerabad police custody in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

A 23-year-old man who assaulted a shop owner and snatched her gold chain in Kompally was chased and caught by locals before he was arrested by the Petbasheerabad police within hours of the crime.

The accused, identified as Malladi Narasimha alias Nani, a native of Andhra Pradesh’s East Godavari district, who was staying at a boys’ hostel in Ameerpet, was later taken into custody after residents overpowered him as he tried to flee.

The incident took place on May 25 at around 6 pm at an oil shop in Jayabheri Park, Kompally. Complainant Bijjam Malleswari, who runs BR Fresh Extracts, told the police that she was alone in the shop when the accused entered the premises.

According to police, the accused threw oil bottles at the woman, assaulted her with fists that caused bleeding injuries and forcibly snatched her gold wedding chain before fleeing the scene.

Residents in the locality, who spotted the accused on the run, chased him and managed to nab him before alerting the police.

Officials from Petbasheerabad police rushed to the spot and arrested the accused in the custody of local residents.

During investigation, the police found that the accused had recently quit his job and turned to theft and extortion for easy money. Officers recovered a stolen gold wedding chain weighing about 30.453 grams from him.

The defendant was later arraigned.

Police also said that another interstate offender Hasan Ali from Nashik in Maharashtra, linked to an Irani gang, was recently arrested in connection with a separate case of chain snatching registered with the Petbasheerabad police.

N. Koti Reddy advised the public, especially women and senior citizens, to remain wary of strangers and report suspicious activity through the 100 number.

Published – 26 May 2026 20:21 IST