Three men on motorcycle snatch gold from 75-year-old woman in Pathardi, punch her in face

Thefts and robberies are rising in Pathardi taluka, and thieves are now targeting elderly women directly. The latest case was reported from the Chitali area of the taluka, where a 75-year-old woman grazing goats was attacked in a brutal and shocking incident. Three men who came to her on the pretext of asking the way to Pathardi snatched gold jewellery from her person and attacked her.

The injured woman is Prayag Ashru Kokale, 75, who lives in Dindewadi in Chitali. On Wednesday (the 4th) afternoon she was grazing her goats beside the Chitali-Avhane road.

Three unknown men on a two-wheeler came up to her and asked the way to Pathardi. As the elderly woman was helpfully giving them directions, the men seized the moment and suddenly began snatching the gold jewellery she was wearing.

In the struggle, a gold earring was pulled hard, causing a serious injury to her ear and tearing the earlobe. It did not end there. One of the three punched her hard in the face, and one of her teeth broke and fell out.

After the assault, the three fled at speed on the same two-wheeler with gold jewellery worth about Rs 43,500.

The broad-daylight incident has spread fear among farmers and villagers in the area, and there is intense anger. With thefts and robberies rising in the area, people's worry has deepened. The question being asked is how the rising number of robberies will be stopped, and that serious question now confronts the police.