A South African woman out on a walk in Lutyens’ Delhi with her husband on Tuesday evening was targeted by bike-borne assailants who robbed her personal belongings and escaped without detection in the high-security area of the capital. This is the fourth time that foreign nationals have been targeted by bikers in high security zone of the city this year.
Police sources disclosed that the incident happened at around 8 pm on Tuesday when Chockalingam Moodley, a Durban-based businessman, was out on a walk with his wife Krishnavanie Moodley on Babar Road. They were accompanied by a Delhi-based businessman and his wife when two bike-borne assailants accosted them and asked Krishnavanie to hand over her bag.
“The victim screamed which caught the attention of his husband who was walking some distance ahead of her. The bikers snatched her bag and sped away before he could rush to her rescue. The couple tried to chase the assailants in vain,” a senior police official said. Despite repeated attempts, additional CP (New Delhi) K.C. Dwivedi was not available for his comment.
“When I heard the scream of my wife, I turned around to see two bikers on a black colour motorcycle snatching her bag. They were wearing helmets. My friend Sanjam Ram and I tried to chase them but they sped off and got away,” Mr Moodley said.
The victim then informed the police and a case under Sections 356 and 379 of the Indian Penal Code was registered at the Barakhamba Road police station.
This is the fourth instance of a foreigner being targeted in the high security Lutyens’ zone this year by bikers.
On February 5, bike-borne snatchers had targeted French national Ms Marie Christine near the Italian embassy in Chanakyapuri and escaped with her bag containing valuables.
On February 4, a Japanese national Yoshimoto was targeted when she was on her way to her hotel in Paharganj. No arrests were made by the police in both these cases and the accused continue to be on the run.