A lavish holiday in the hills of Himachal Pradesh, financed by stolen cash, has led to the arrest of a 22-year-old man from Surat. The accused, identified as Jatin Chaudhary, allegedly attacked his seven-months pregnant neighbour and looted valuables worth Rs 2.26 lakh to fund his extravagant escape with his girlfriend.
The Brutal Attack on a Pregnant Neighbour
The incident occurred on December 16 in the Ichhapore area of Surat. According to police, Chaudhary knocked on his neighbour's door and launched a sudden assault. He attacked the woman by throwing chilli powder at her face, causing her to faint. The attack did not stop there. Police Inspector AC Gohil stated that after she lost consciousness, Chaudhary proceeded to kick and punch the victim. He also injured her with a screwdriver before fleeing the scene with cash and jewellery valued at Rs 2.26 lakh.
The Escape and Luxurious Manali Getaway
Following the crime, Chaudhary swiftly left Surat on his moped and headed to the railway station. He boarded the Tuticorin–Okha train to make his escape. His next move was to contact his girlfriend, who was based in Ahmedabad. He transferred Rs 35,000 from the stolen money into her account and instructed her to meet him for a holiday in Himachal Pradesh. The couple then checked into a hotel in the popular tourist destination of Manali, seemingly believing they had gotten away with the crime.
Police Investigation and Arrest
The Ichhapore police, however, were hot on his trail. Using a combination of technical surveillance and human intelligence, officers managed to track the couple's movements all the way to their hotel in Manali. "We kept surveillance near their hotel and arrested Chaudhary when he stepped out," explained Inspector Gohil. The police operation successfully nabbed the accused, putting an abrupt end to his funded vacation. Jatin Chaudhary, a native of Rajasthan who worked at a transport firm in Surat, has been brought back to the city for further legal proceedings and investigation.
The case highlights a shocking crime where the perpetrator used violence against a vulnerable pregnant woman to finance a life of luxury, only to be caught by diligent police work. The victim is reportedly recovering from the traumatic attack.
