Chennai: Phones, wallets of scribes, AIADMK workers stolen

CHENNAI: Burglars stole at least 12 mobile phones and wallets of journalists and AIADMK workers after sneaking into a crowd that was paying tributes at the Jayalalithaa memorial on Kamarajar Salai on the former chief minister's sixth death anniversary on Monday.
While five thefts were reported inside the memorial when journalists were busy covering political leaders at the memorial including former chief ministers Edappadi K Palanisamy, O Panneerselvam, former MLA TTV Dhinakaran and VK Sasikala. The leaders visited the memorial to garland her photograph on the death anniversary.
The remaining seven thefts were reported outside the MGR memorial when AIADMK workers had come to garland their former leaders on Monday.
Police sprung into action after it was confirmed that seven people had lost their mobiles and wallets near the memorial. An investigation officer said, "The journalists who lost their mobile phones may have dropped or misplaced them in a hurry to take videos of leaders visiting the Jayalalithaa memorial."
Cops are verifying the CCTV camera footage at the memorial to check for suspects. The Anna Square police have registered a case and further investigations are on.