Mumbai, July 31: In a speeding train shocker at dawn, a disturbed Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable allegedly shot dead his immediate in-charge and three other passengers onboard a running train, Jaipur-Mumbai Superfast Express (No. 12956), officials said here on Monday.
The incident occurred as the train was speeding between Virar (Palghar) and Mira Road (Thane) where the two on-duty cops – Constable Chetankumar Singh and his in-charge, Assistant Sub-Inspector Tikaram Meena – were on escort duty.
It was around 5.23 a.m. when Singh reportedly had an argument with some passenger in the B-5 coach, lifted and aimed his automatic weapon at them, but Meena intervened and asked him to maintain calm.
In an apparent rage, Singh didn’t heed Meena and shot at him and three other passengers, including a pantry car employee, firing at least 12 rounds indiscriminately from his weapon.
Singh ran from there to an adjoining bogie, then pulled the alarm chain, hopped off near Dahisar station and attempted to flee but was chased and caught by a GRP jawan on duty there.
He was taken to Mira Road station along with the killer weapon and is under detention even as top RPF, GRP and other officials rushed to investigate the tragedy.
The deceased passengers are identified as – Akhtar Abbas Ali, 48 of Sewri (Mumbai) and Abdulqader Mohammedhussein Bhanpurawala, 50, of Nalasopara (Palghar).
As per officials, for a few moments, Singh even tried to hold the passengers hostage at gunpoint, though the exact motives behind his actions are not yet clear.
According to preliminary information, Singh had been in a disturbed state of mind owing to certain family issues.
After a delay of around two hours, the train reached Mumbai Central station and then shifted to a yard where a forensic team, GRP, RPF and local authorities along with senior officers have started a probe.
Meanwhile, the bodies of all the victims were shifted to Borivali station and then to the Kandivali Shatabdi Hospital for an autopsy and further formalities.
Western Railway Divisional Railway Manager (WR-DRM) Neeraj Verma termed the incident as ‘very unfortunate’ and said it would be probed from all angles.
He added that the families of the deceased victims have been contacted and they shall be entitled to compensation as applicable.
The family of the deceased ASI Meena shall be entitled to various benefits like ex-gratia, Railway Suraksha Kalyan Nidhi, Death Cum Retirement Gratuity, General Insurance Scheme, leave amount and other expenses totaling to around Rs 60-lakh, plus a compensation from WR, said an official.
