Kalyan girl gets bravery award

Kalyan girl Monal Kadlak has made the suburbs proud. The brave young seventeen-year-old from Khadakpada area in Kalyan showed exemplary valour in nabbing a mugger who was trying to flee after snatching her gold chain in 2005.

Monal Kadlak being felicitated by the Thane police commissioner D Sivanandhan

 

Kadlak was felicitated by the Thane police commissioner, D Sivanandan on Wednesday at a function in Thane. She was presented with a certificate of appreciation and a memento along with a cash prize for her bravery.

Kadlak nabbed a mugger single handedly in front of Kalyan station on June 26, 2005. The mugger was trying to flee after snatching a gold chain from her person.

Kadlak who was waiting for an auto with her mother Sunanda and sister Komal were waylaid by a group of three muggers. Suddenly one of them leaped in front of them and snatched the chain that Monal was wearing.

After she realised the situation, Monal immediately sprinted and started chasing the mugger who had by now entered the station premises.

Seeing Monal following him, the mugger panicked and started running towards the tracks when Monal grabbed him by his leg. "It was the day when my SSC results were announced and we were buying some sweets. On our way back we were waylaid and I decided to get into action mode.

The mugger was trying to jump across the fence when I grabbed his leg and pulled him back. Seeing me in action some commuters helped me in overpowering the mugger and handing him over to the police," informed Monal.

Ask her what inspired her to attempt this act of bravery and the first year student of KM Agarwal College, Kalyan says, "In that instant I knew that I had to act and not cow down. I have learnt karate and this helped me a lot in boosting my confidence."

Ask her about her career and she is prompt to say that she wants to be a police inspector. "I want to serve the country and what better way than to enrol as a police officer. I would also like to add that no one, especially girls should ever get scared of these petty criminals.

You should have the confidence to face them," says she. Kadlak has also got an assurance from the Thane police who have assured her a free training session after she completes her HSC exams.
Atta girl.
manoj.badgeri@timesgroup.com

In that instant I knew that I had to act and not cow down. I have learnt karate and this helped me a lot in boosting my confidence. I would also like to add that no one, especially girls should ever get scared of these petty criminals.
You should have the confidence to face them
-Monal Kadlak