A person who allegedly snatched the gold chains of two women here was arrested Monday (July 20).

According to police, R. Saradha (51), a resident of Karuppur town panchayat, runs a vegetable shop near a Murugan temple in the locality. On Sunday, while she was alone at the shop, a person came and inquired about vegetable prices. While she was replying, the person snatched her five-sovereign chain and fled. The Karuppur police registered a case.

Second incident

S. Santhiya (33), a resident of the 13th ward on Karuppur Main Road, runs a grocery shop. On Monday morning while she was in the shop, a person, who came on a motorcycle and wore a helmet, asked for biscuits. While she was taking the biscuits, the person snatched her two-sovereign chain and fled. This was the second chain snatching reported within 24 hours in Karuppur police station limits. The Karuppur police were on the lookout for the culprit.

On Monday evening, the police arrested a 22-year-old man at Hasthampatti in connection with the cases. The suspect was identified as R. Vignesh of Pennagaram in Dharmapuri district. The police seized the gold chains and a two-wheeler from him.

Former Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) MLA R. Arul said on Thursday (July 16) that PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss did not have any leadership qualities.

Mr. Arul, who was known as a strong supporter of PMK founder S. Ramadoss, held a meeting with his supporters and the cadre who supported Dr. Ramadoss in Salem, during which a sheet was given to the participants, asking their choice between joining a party or starting a new one. In the meeting, five resolutions were passed, including the one demanding that the government divide Salem district into three districts for administrative purposes.

“Happy to see Dr. Ramadoss and his son, Anbumani, united again. PMK was founded by Dr. Ramadoss, and he made Dr. Anbumani a Union Minister. But Dr. Anbumani likened the supporters of Dr. Ramadoss to a drain. Dr. Anbumani asked us many times to join his faction, but we (Dr. Ramadoss supporters) stand behind the party founder. The vote percentage of PMK was reduced to 2.1% from 5.2%. We are unable to understand the silence of Dr. Ramadoss,” Mr. Arul said.

Alleging that there were no leadership qualities in Dr. Anbumani, Mr. Arul added: “We will not accept Dr. Anbumani as our leader.”

Mr. Arul said they travelled with Dr. Ramadoss for the past 37 years, and when he renounced politics, they held a meeting with his supporters. “We asked their views on whether to start a new party or to join other parties. All parties, including the AIADMK and the DMK, invited us to join their party and the doors of the ruling TVK, too, opened for us. We will go through the views of the participants in the meeting and will make a decision soon,” Mr. Arul added.

The Salem City Police said scammers have taken loans virtually using bank accounts of those who downloaded APK files shared on WhatsApp.

An application named ‘RTO Challan.apk’ was shared to the WhatsApp number of a person in Hasthampatti recently. Believing that it came from a government organisation, he downloaded the application on his mobile phone. Following this, the bank account information on his mobile phone was illegally taken and an online loan of ₹7.5 lakh was obtained in his name.

Later, the loan amount was transferred to the bank accounts of the fraudsters through online transactions without the knowledge of the victim. Salem City Cyber Crime Police registered a case, and with the help of bank officials, ₹1.10 lakh was frozen. The police said that an investigation is being carried out to identify and arrest the culprits.

In a press release, the Salem City police said the public should not download ‘apk files’ or suspicious apps coming through social media, including SMS messages from WhatsApp and Telegram accounts. No government agency, including banks and RTOs, will send an APK file regarding fines or services.

Avoid installing any app other than from Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Do not share OTP, UPI, or ATM pin, CVV, or net banking password with anyone.

If an unknown app is suddenly installed on your mobile phone and bank transactions are made without permission, immediately disconnect the internet connection, contact the customer service of the relevant bank, and take steps to freeze the bank account.

Victims shall contact the National Cyber Helpline at 1930 without delay or register a complaint immediately on the National Cyber Crime Complaint Portal, www.cybercrime.gov.in. Filing a complaint immediately will increase the chances of freezing and recovering the fraudulently transferred funds, the police added.