Chain snatcher, who Kurla GRP nicknamed ‘catwoman’, arrested

MUMBAI: A 24-year-old woman, nicknamed ‘catwoman’ by the government railway police (GRP) officers, was arrested at Kurla railway station after she stole a gold chain from a commuter, jumped nearly 10 feet off the train, and got off on the other side of the platform within ten seconds. The accused, identified as Sita Pradip Sonwani, works at a construction site. She was arrested on Wednesday, two days after the incident.

On Monday, Kurla resident Maltidevi Singh boarded the train at Kurla station towards Thane. Singh was standing near the footboard of the train when Sonwani grabbed her mangalsutra and jumped out of the train. “She jumped out like a cat,” said Singh, recalling the incident.

“Sonwani leaped off the train and began sprinting. Bystanders noted something suspicious and tried to intercept her. However, Sonwani dropped the mangalstura and told them that she was in a hurry to get to her son who had been left behind at the previous station,” said Ramesh Sankpal, police sub inspector, Kurla GRP.

“We identified Sonwani when she returned the next day and saw her searching for something on the platform. She was wearing the same clothes as in the CCTV footage. She revealed that she had thrown the chain as she was being intercepted by the crowd,” said Sankpal.

Sonwani told the police that she had started snatching gold chains after her husband left her. She said she had not received her daily wage for over three months.