Gayaji: The Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) have arrested a 55-year-old man in connection with alleged drugging and robbery of passengers on trains in the Gayaji region.
The accused allegedly befriended passengers during train journeys and offered them tea, biscuits or other food items laced with intoxicating substances. Once the passengers became unconscious, he allegedly stole their mobile phones and other belongings before leaving the train.
Police recovered six smartphones, 120 suspected intoxicating tablets, suspected narcotic powder, biscuits, a debit card and railway tickets from the accused, officials said.
Rail DSP Gulshan Kumar disclosed the details during a press conference on Wednesday.
Case came to light after passenger found unconscious
The case came to light on October 4, when a passenger was found unconscious at Warisliganj. During the investigation, police suspected that the passenger had been drugged during a train journey.
Following this, a joint RPF-GRP team was formed to investigate the incident.
Based on technical evidence and other information gathered during the investigation, the team arrested the suspect during a patrol on Platform 1C of Gayaji railway station on October 7.
The accused identified himself as Ramesh Kumar, 55, a resident of Nalanda district. Police searched his bag on suspicion and recovered the suspected drugs and other items.
How accused allegedly targeted passengers
According to police, the accused told investigators that he would first strike up a conversation with passengers during train journeys and gain their confidence.
He would allegedly then ask the passenger to keep an eye on his belongings while he went to bring tea or biscuits. During this process, he allegedly mixed an intoxicating substance into tea, biscuits or other food items.
Police said the substance was also allegedly used in powder form in some cases.
After the passenger became unconscious, the accused allegedly stole the person’s mobile phone and other valuables and got off the train when he found an opportunity.
Action taken under Operation Rail Prahari
The arrest was carried out under Operation Rail Prahari by a joint RPF-GRP team working under the direction of Assistant Security Commissioner Gayaji Sanjay Kumar Singh and Rail DSP Gulshan Kumar.
The team included personnel from the RPF post at Gayaji, the Crime Intelligence Branch and other police officials.
Officials said incidents involving passengers being drugged on trains are a serious security concern. They added that railway authorities and security personnel are maintaining increased surveillance at stations and inside trains to identify suspicious activities and prevent such crimes.
