<p>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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>“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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>“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.</p>
<p>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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>“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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>“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.</p>