Gold Chains Snatched from Women, Including BJP Functionary, in Salem

On April 16, 2026, unidentified assailants snatched gold chains from two women in Salem, Tamil Nadu, including a local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionary. The primary victim, S. Jayalakshmi, aged 41, serves as the president of the BJP Omalur East union. According to police reports, the incident occurred in the afternoon as Jayalakshmi was returning home on her two-wheeler after visiting the BJP office in Omalur. Upon reaching the Attukaranur area, two individuals on another two-wheeler intercepted her, forcibly pushed her off her vehicle, and stole her five-sovereign gold chain before fleeing the scene. The Karuppur police have registered a case regarding the robbery and are actively searching for the suspects. This incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding street crime and the safety of women in the region. The report focuses on the specific criminal act and the subsequent police investigation, noting the political affiliation of one victim as a key detail in the local context.