Gauri Verma (43), a reader in the state vigilance investigation department, got down from her auto-rickshaw from her Police Colony house and walked to her office on Circular Road when the incident occurred. It took place near the gate of the chief minister’s Janata Darbar around 10:30 in the morning.

This high security zone houses residences of ministers and high court judges.

A police officer said that  the incident took place near a high court judge’s residence opposite the back gate of the chief minister’s residence through which people enter during the weekly Janata Darbar. The woman was walking towards her office when she was attacked by some criminals.

According to Gauri Verma while she was walking down Circular Road, she felt someone following her at a close distance. As she turned to look, a man pulled at the gold chain around her neck. When she resisted he started punching her face. Suddenly another man appeared on the scene and tried to snatch earrings. One of them hit her on the head with a heavy object. She collapsed and got a kick on the face and the chain was snatched. By then, passers-by rushed to her help. The attackers soon disappeared.

It was the passers-by who helped Verma stand up and alerted her office. Verma was rushed to Gardanibagh Hospital for first-aid.

When contacted, Patna city superintendent of police Jayant Kant said investigations were on in the case.

The crime at such a high security zone sent a shock awave among the employees of secretariat and other government offices as never in their imagination they thought of such incident taking place here.