Police Constable Injured in Phone Snatching Near Sanatorium Station, Suspect Arrested

A 26-year-old woman police constable was injured on Sunday night after falling from a moving suburban train while resisting a mobile phone snatching near Sanatorium station in the Tambaram area. Adolin Prabha, who is attached to the forensic department, was travelling in a general compartment of an Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) train bound from Tambaram to Chennai Beach.

According to the police, the incident occurred as the train was leaving Sanatorium station. Ajay Nayak, a 28-year-old construction worker, snatched Prabha's mobile phone inside the compartment. As Prabha attempted to grab her phone back from him, she lost her balance and fell from the moving train, sustaining injuries to her head and face.

Fellow passengers on board the train acted quickly by pulling the emergency chain to bring the train to a halt. The passengers detained the suspect at the spot and subsequently handed him over to the Railway Protection Force (RPF).

Medical assistance was provided to Prabha immediately following her fall. She was initially rushed to the Tambaram Government Hospital and was later shifted to a private hospital in Chromepet, where she received stitches for her injuries.

Railway police registered a case regarding the incident, recovered the stolen mobile phone, and formally arrested Nayak. Police stated that Nayak, who hails from Assam, was uncooperative during his interrogation and appeared to be under the influence of ganja at the time.

Further inquiries revealed that Nayak and his wife had previously been working as construction labourers in Trichy. After going without wage payments for two months, the couple had arrived in Tambaram while making preparations to travel back to Assam.

Following Nayak's arrest, his wife arrived at the police station with their child and demanded his release. She attempted to jump in front of an approaching train while holding the child, but prompt action by RPF personnel prevented the act. Officers later counselled the woman and sent her home safely with the child.

Police confirmed that Nayak was subsequently produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody.