Patna – On Thursday morning, near Manjhauli on the Patna-Mokama railway line, a group of miscreants targeted the AC bogies A1 and B2 of Kamakhya Express (15623 Down), robbing three female passengers of their purse, bag, and mobile phone. The miscreants snatched the mobile phone of another passenger, arousing the attention of fellow passengers.
Amidst the chaos, the miscreants brought the train to a halt by activating the emergency brakes and swiftly made their escape. The victims, left in shock and distress, reported the incident, prompting a swift response from the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP).
Upon receiving information about the incident, RPF post in-charge Lokesh Kumar, Chakrapani Kumar, and GRP in-charge Kanchan Kumari promptly reached the scene. The police stopped the train at Bakhtiyarpur for a thorough investigation and recorded statements from the victimized passengers. The Railway Police took cognizance of the situation and sent the statement of female passenger Sumita Mishra from Assam to the Railway Crime Control Center in Khusrupur to initiate the FIR process.
The incident stirred unrest among passengers at Bakhtiyarpur railway station, with many placing blame on alleged police negligence for the security lapse. Passengers claimed the absence of an escort party on the train, asserting that such an oversight contributed to the occurrence of the incident. In response to the mounting tension, RPF Assistant Sub Inspector Subodh Kumar ensured the safe transport of the train to New Barauni station under enhanced security measures.
The Railway Police has registered an FIR against the unknown miscreants under Section 379 and 356 of the Indian Penal Code, focusing on theft and criminal force to commit theft, respectively. The preliminary investigation indicates that the criminals, numbering around half a dozen, had boarded the train in Patna, armed with weapons. Collaborative efforts between the RPF and Railway Police are underway, with three individuals currently detained for questioning.
