The Kempegowda Nagar police arrested a 27-year-old woman while she tried to flee after snatching a gold chain from an elderly woman after threatening her with a knife at Raghavendra Colony in Chamarajpet on Wednesday.
According to the police, the arrested has been identified as Eshwari, a resident of KP Agrahara who was working as a helper in an anganwadi school near her house. She was residing along with her husband Muthu Kumar, an autorickshaw driver and two children.
On Wednesday, around 4 pm, Eshwari noticed an elderly woman identified as Annapoornamma, 80, taking a stroll. She approached Annapoornamma on the pretext of asking for an address, threw chilli powder on her face, held a knife to her throat and snatched her nine-gram gold chain worth Rs 20,000 and fled.
Annapoornamma raised an alarm and collapsed on the ground. The public rushed to her aid and noticed Eshwari fleeing. They chased and nabbed her and thrashed her, police said.
The police rushed to the spot and arrested Eshwari. Annapoornamma was shifted to a private hospital, as her eyes were burning due to the chilli powder.
Eshwari was subjected to interrogation and it was found that in September 2015, she was arrested and sent to jail in connection with a house burglary case in Kamakshipalya police limits, where she had made away with silver and gold ornaments.
Recently, she came out on bail and indulged in crime. Eshwari said that poverty at home pushed her to crime, police said.
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