Glasgow student has his gold chain worth £3000 stolen at a music festival in Manchester

An Indian man studying in Glasgow was left devastated after his gold chain was stolen at Parklife Festival in Manchester last weekend.

Ameya Bhanushali has claimed that he was punched in the neck by a stranger, after which he became unconscious and the chain worth over £3000 was taken from him. The incident occurred during an altercation at the Drum and Bass stage on Saturday.

Manchester Evening News reported that the 27-year-old was disappointed with the organisers of the festival as he could not see any security staff around after the robbery.

The man said that his chain was snatched by two men at around 8:30pm and added, “I was dancing in the non-crowded area and suddenly a guy snatched my pure gold chain from my neck.

“I realised immediately and caught him and asked him to give me back my chain.

“In the next 20 seconds, I was knocked unconscious by another guy with a punch to my neck. I fell down to the ground and my specs broke and my neck was swollen.

“By the time I was conscious again and I got back up people told me that the perpetrators had run away.

“I immediately tried to find security around the stage but there was absolutely none. I could have very easily died had the punch landed on my jaw or face or anywhere else. It was absolutely terrifying.”

After he found the security staff eventually, Bhanushali was told to report the incident to the police. But when they were escorting him, they had to leave to sort another fight out.

He added, “I spent the next hour with the police telling them the entire incident, providing them with all information I could think of at that time.

“I had descriptions for the guy who stole my very valuable and sentimental pure gold chain worth in excess of £3000.

“Police told me there was absolutely no CCTV cameras at the stage. They did register my crime but in the end they told me it would be very difficult as there is no CCTV.”

A similar incident is said to have occurred with another festival-goer, which was also reported to the police.

Greater Manchester Police have confirmed they have launched an investigation into both incidents, with enquiries that are ongoing.

In response to the first altercation, a spokesperson said, “At around 9pm on Saturday 10 June 2023, officers were called to reports of a robbery at Heaton Park on Middleton Road.

“No arrests have been made at this stage and enquiries are ongoing at this stage.”