Chain snatching incident in Bhopal AIIMS lift:Youth snatches woman’s mangalsutra as gate opens; victim cries for 10 minutes

Even in high-security health institutions like AIIMS Bhopal, women are not safe. A chain snatching incident occurred inside an elevator on Sunday evening with a female employee, whose CCTV video emerged on Monday. The incident has raised serious questions about AIIMS’ security system. The incident took place in the elevator located behind the blood bank. The victim Varsha Soni, who is an attendant in the gynecology department, was alone in the elevator during duty. At that time, a young man wearing a mask and cap entered the elevator and asked about the ophthalmology department floor, pretending to make conversation. As soon as the elevator reached the third floor, the youth first stepped out and suddenly returned to grab the woman’s neck. The accused tried to snatch the gold pearl necklace and mangalsutra. The woman resisted, but the youth pushed her and ran towards the stairs. He fled with the mangalsutra, while the pearl necklace broke and fell at the spot. No guard was present in the lift area
The most shocking thing was that not a single security guard was present in the lift area at the time of the incident. After the incident, the victim sat there crying for about ten minutes. Later, a guard on rounds reported the matter to senior officials. The woman has filed a written complaint at Bagsewania police station, but FIR has not been registered yet. Fled after exiting from IPD gate
Due to Sunday holiday and January 26th, there was less crowd in the hospital, based on which security was reduced in several wards and blocks. Initial investigation revealed that after the incident, the accused escaped through the IPD gate. According to the security agency, the accused was wearing a mask and cap, making identification difficult. First chain snatching case at Bhopal AIIMS
There have been theft incidents at AIIMS Bhopal campus before, but this is the first case of chain snatching targeting a woman inside the lift. After the incident came to light, serious questions are being raised about the management’s security arrangements. Meanwhile, police are searching for the accused with the help of CCTV footage.