A Congress parliamentarian was assaulted and robbed in the heart of Delhi’s diplomatic enclave on Monday, raising serious questions over safety even in the city’s most protected precincts.
R Sudha, MP from Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu, was out on a morning walk near the Embassy of Poland in Chanakyapuri when an unidentified man riding a scooter snatched her gold chain and fled the scene. The attack, which occurred around 6.15 am, left her with injuries to her neck and a torn garment. She was accompanied by Rajya Sabha MP D Rajathi at the time.
"When I shouted, no one came to help. After some time, I saw a patrol vehicle 200 metres away, but they did not respond. I then called our party whip Manickam Tagore, and he arranged for the police to come," she said.
The incident has sparked widespread concern, as it took place in a neighbourhood that houses several embassies and state guest houses, including the Tamil Nadu Bhavan, where Sudha is currently residing during the Monsoon session of Parliament.
Following the attack, Sudha dashed off a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, describing the incident as “highly shocking” and demanding immediate action.
“If a woman cannot walk safely in this high-priority zone in the national capital of India, where else can we feel safe and do our routine without fearing for our limbs, lives, and valuables,” she wrote, further adding, “I am highly traumatised by this criminal attack.”
According to a statement from Delhi Police, a case has been registered and a probe is under way. “The incident occurred near the Polish Embassy. A miscreant on a scooter approached the MP and snatched her gold chain before fleeing. She shouted for help, but no bystanders intervened,” a senior officer said.
Police said Sudha initially did not lodge a formal complaint. However, following a PCR call from Tamil Nadu Bhavan, the Station House Officer met her and collected her written statement. Emergency Response Vehicles in the vicinity were alerted shortly after the incident.
Multiple teams have been deployed to examine CCTV footage and speak to eyewitnesses. Police officials confirmed that efforts were on to trace the route of the accused and determine their identity.
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“We are also waiting for the MLC report to confirm the nature of the injury. Security in and around Tamil Nadu Bhavan has been intensified,” the officer added.
In her letter, Sudha said the assailant wore a helmet that fully obscured his face. “As he pulled the chain from my neck, I suffered injuries, and my churidhar got torn in the impact. I somehow managed not to fall, and both of us cried for help,” she said.
Opposition corners Centre over chain-snatching incident in VIP zone
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi said the attack in such a well-guarded area was “a new and disturbing development”, adding that the lack of response from a nearby patrol vehicle after the incident was deeply concerning. “That attentiveness must be there, and I think everybody across party lines would agree with that,” she said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi termed the attack “extremely unfortunate”. “An MP’s chain is snatched in broad daylight in a highly secured area like Chanakyapuri. What must be happening to the common public?” she asked, pointing to the supposed high level of surveillance in the area.
Congress MP Jebi Mather said the incident raised serious concerns. “Where do we stand on women’s safety in the national capital? A woman MP is attacked, her clothes are torn, her chain is snatched -- all in the most secure area filled with embassies,” she said. “Even women MPs are not safe under the nose of the Home Minister. What happened to ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’? It’s only a slogan.”
Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari also slammed the Centre, calling the incident a reflection of Delhi’s worsening law and order under central control. “This happened in the most secure area. What does that say about the safety of ordinary citizens?” he said, adding that BJP-ruled states like Bihar were witnessing daily incidents of violence.
Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan said the attack was a glaring reminder of vulnerability in the national capital. “This is not just about a gold chain. This happened to a woman MP walking outside Tamil Nadu Bhavan in Lutyens’ Delhi. If she is not safe, who is? The Home Minister is busy focusing on elections and voter manipulation in Bihar instead of law and order in Delhi,” she alleged.
Union Minister S P Singh Baghel defended the government, stating, “The situation is much better now than before.”
Delhi Minister and former chief minister Atishi also weighed in, saying, “If a Member of Parliament is not safe in a VIP area like Chanakyapuri, it raises serious concerns about the safety of common citizens in the national capital.”
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