Snatching incidents leave residents, especially women, feeling unsafe in Amritsar

Frequent incidents of snatching have emerged as a serious concern for city residents, with women increasingly feeling unsafe while stepping out, even during the day. Repeated cases of snatching reported from busy localities have raised questions over public safety and police patrolling.

In the latest incident, the handbag of an NRI woman, Rita Kochar, was snatched on Lawrence Road, one of the busiest and most upscale areas of the city on Monday afternoon. According to the victim, two unidentified youths on a motorcycle targeted her while she was walking along the road. The snatchers fled within seconds, leaving her shaken. The bag reportedly contained cash, documents and a mobile phone. Shobit, an eyewitness who tried to intervene, said, “The snatchers flashed a pistol at us. After that, no one dared to chase them.”

Just a few days earlier, a shocking incident was reported in which a woman was thrashed in broad daylight as she resisted a snatching bid. The incident took place in a crowded area, highlighting the audacity of the miscreants and the growing fear among residents. The victim suffered minor injuries and later lodged a complaint with the police.

Residents, particularly women and senior citizens, say such incidents have become routine. “Earlier, we felt safe walking on main roads, but now there is fear even during the daytime. Women are a soft target,” said a local resident of Lawrence Road. Another resident said that snatchers often take advantage of traffic congestion and poor surveillance to escape easily.

Parents of girl students have also expressed concern, urging the authorities to ensure safety near educational institutions. “Our daughters are not safe even during college hours. This is extremely worrying,” said a parent Harkirat Kaur.

Residents have demanded strict action against offenders, better street lighting, increased police presence and more functional CCTV cameras. Many also appealed to the administration to launch awareness drives and quick-response mechanisms so that the victims can get immediate help. As snatching incidents continue to rise, restoring a sense of security remains a major challenge for the city authorities.

Police officials stated that the accused in the earlier instance was arrested within a few hours and action has been initiated in the case.