Woman falls off auto in Delhi as bikers snatch purse, suffers severe head injury

Jyoti Bakhsi was on her way to Kashmere Gate ISBT with her daughter Mahak when two men on a bike targeted them. Jyoti fell out of the auto and sustained head injuries.

A 50-year-old woman was grievously wounded when she fell off a moving auto while trying to save her purse from motorcycle-borne snatchers in north Delhi on Monday afternoon.

Jyoti Bakshi remained unconscious for about 24 hours at the Sushruta Trauma Centre after suffering head injuries. (Picture: Sourced)

Jyoti Bakshi remained unconscious for about 24 hours at the Sushruta Trauma Centre. When she regained consciousness on Tuesday afternoon, she was unable to recognise her family, said her daughter, Mahak Bakshi.

Jyoti is a resident of Haridwar in Uttarakhand. She came to the National Capital Region a few days ago to visit her daughter, Mahak, who was unwell for a few days. Mahak, 25, works as a medical transcriptionist at a hospital in Noida and lives in a hostel.

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The incident took place when the mother-daughter duo was on their way to Kashmere Gate ISBT in an auto from Noida Sector 16. They wanted to catch a bus from ISBT to Haridwar. The snatchers targeted them when their auto reached the ring road behind Red Fort.

Mahak said that her mother was sitting on the left side of the seat, while she was on the right.

“A bike came from behind and started moving parallel on my mother’s side. There were two men on it. Both were wearing helmets. Suddenly, the man riding pillion snatched her purse. My mother lost her balance and fell off the auto, landing head first on the road,” Mahak said.

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Jyoti’s reflex action was to try to save her purse but she fell off the running three-wheeler, badly hurting her head in the process and immediately falling unconscious.

“I was too shocked to note down the bike’s number. When I came to my senses, I shouted and the driver stopped the auto. He came out with me, picked up mother, put her back in the auto and brought us to Sushruta Trauma Centre in Civil Lines,” said Mahak.

The robbers managed to get away with Jyoti’s purse which also contained Mahak’s small purse. The duo lost their mobile phones, several cards, identity proofs and Rs 7,000 cash.

“The robbers appeared to be in their early 20s. Their bike was black in colour and appeared to be a Pulsar,” Mahak said.

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When a police team reached the hospital, Jyoti was found unconscious and unfit to give a statement. “She has received injuries on both sides of her head. She regained consciousness on Tuesday afternoon but is unable to recognize anyone,” the daughter said.

The police, meanwhile, are yet to identify the suspects. A case of theft and assault has been registered.