from Daijiworld News Network;s special correspondent in Attur (SS)

Karkala, Jan 26:  It was a ‘make hay while the sun shines’ time for the chain-snatchers at the St Lawrence feast at Attur here. Nearly 15 people reported of chain snatching incidents during the ongoing feast which commenced on Monday January 23.

Over the past years, the authorities have been cautioning pilgrims, especially women, not to go about flashing heavy jewellery on their person. Yet, it has been going on. In spite of supervision by the police and the volunteers, fifteen cases of chain-snatching were reported. Mangalsutras and chains have been the most lost jewellery.

There were allegations that the police caned some women on Wednesday night, especially pregnant women. A women's gang from Tamil Nadu is said to be operating. The police sources said that the women who were rounded up were not pregnant, but it was a pretext to create sympathy among the public. No incidents of chain-snatching were reported after the police took strict action.

The Karkala rural police informed that only a few suspects were caught, but they were let free later.