Woman undergoes surgery after bikers snatch bag

A 39-year-old woman, out for her annual winter shopping, met with a grim fate as she fell down from a moving auto while fighting off a snatching attempt in South Delhi’s Moolchand flyover . She is currently undergoing a brain surgery at the Institute of Brain and Spine (IBS).

The victim, Sharmila Rai, fell head first and then skid for a few metres. She developed a clot in her brain, following which she has been put on ventilator.

Sharmila was on her way for her winter shopping in Connaught Place. She left her house in South Delhi’s Sanwal Nagar in an auto and was accompanied by her husband Rakesh Rai (43) and his nephew Gaurav Rai (18).

“We had planned to buy some jackets. She was very excited with the shopping. We had planned to go to Pallika Bazar in the evening,” said Rakesh.

Sharmila was seated on the left side of the auto. When it reached Moolchand flyover, three men on a black Pulsar zipped past her auto and snatched her bag.

“It all happened in a split second. I could not even make sense of what had happened. My wife fell down and I could barely take a glimpse at their faces,” said Rakesh.

His wife was bleeding on the road. Rakesh stopped the auto and went screaming in her wife’s direction. She was taken to a local hospital and was later referred to a neurosurgeon at IBS.

The bikers managed to flee the spot with Rai’s bag that contained her purse, a mobile phone, Rakesh’s wallet and at least Rs 7,000 cash in new notes.

The police have registered a case of assault or criminal force in an attempt to commit theft against unknown person at Defence Colony police station.

Sharmila lives with Rakesh and two daughters — Bhumika (10) and Belvia (4) — in a rented house in Block C of Sanwal Nagar in South Delhi. She works as a beautician in Nizamuddin and Rakesh is a chef in India International Centre (IIC).