Surya was getting ready to return home from a mechanic shop in Chennai's upscale Anna Nagar where he works on Tuesday but suddenly heard the screams of a woman who was seeking help.

A thief was fleeing after snatching her gold chain. Though the locality was bustling with people, none except Surya came to the woman's rescue.

The 17-year-old kept pace with the thief by chasing him a few streets down the lane and overpowered him by punching in the face, before handing him over to the police.

On Thursday, when the Chennai Police felicitated the boy, he rued the fact at 8.30 pm on a bustling street in Chennai, none came to the woman's rescue.

“I saw so many people in the busy locality, but none were willing to help me in nabbing the thief. Even when I overpowered the thief, people were only interested in shooting videos,” Surya said, in the presence of Chennai Police Commissioner A K Viswanathan.

The incident reflects the apathy shown by people towards fellow citizens when they face harassment or fall victim to a crime, Surya said after Viswanathan felicitated him at his office and asked people to be socially conscious.

The suspect, 23-year-old Janakiraman, posed as a patient and went inside the clinic to meet the woman, 48-year-old Dr Amudha, a gynaecologist.

After making sure that no one was inside the clinic, he robbed Amudha of her gold chain and fled, prompting the gynaecologist to raise an alarm.

“People should come forward to help others in distress situation. I am happy that a teenager risked his life to nab the thief. We are fortunate that he is safe,” Viswanathan said.