In a shocking case, a gang of armed criminals looted passengers of Hatia-Tata Passenger Train near Kandra station in Kandra-Tata section of Chakradharpur railway division of South Eastern Railway, late Thursday night.
The armed criminals targeted about 15 passengers, including two women; they also molested the women in front of their kin during the incident that took place between Kandra station and Birrajpur station at about 11 pm.
Sources said that there were four criminals who went on a looting spree as soon as the train left Kandra station. One of the criminals was holding a pistol and others razors looted cash, ornaments and other valuables before getting down the train at Birrajpur by pulling the chain.
One of the passengers said that the loot took place in the bogie just next to the locomotive engine. “We are still in shock. There were in all 17 passengers in the bogie when the train left Hatia at 4.20 pm and as the train reached Kandra, two more passengers got into it. But as soon as the train left Kandra station, the two new comers started checking the passengers by abusing us all. Soon I saw one of the criminals was holding a pistol and three others were carrying razors,” he recalled.
According to the passenger, two of the criminals molested the two women while snatching their gold chain, leading the women to protest in vain.
The four looters took away about 10 cellphones, Rs 3,000 and gold ornaments worth about Rs 1 lakh from the passengers.
When the train reached Tatanagar station at around 11.40 pm, the loot victims went over to the GRP police and wanted to lodge an FIR, but the OC, Edward Toppo refused to receive it, claiming that they would not receive any complaint unless they carry out an investigation and verify the claim. The matter was then taken to Chandil station.
Notably, the several gangs operate in the trains originating from Tatanagar and Howrah stations. Members of the gang travel in trains in the guise of passengers and even in the reserved compartment, and befriend with the co-passengers.
After a point of time, they even offer drugged sweets or biscuits and sometimes tea to their co-passengers, who lose their sense after consuming the food. As soon as the victims fall unconscious, the criminals decamp with the valuables and cash. Gangs are making their presence felt after a lull of a year. looting and duping passengers the gang members have left railway police split hairs over the area of their operation.
“Cases of passengers being looted are being reported in trains as well as buses. Members of the gang travel in trains and buses in the guise of passengers and target them. The police must take a serious note to this menace and take steps against those involved,” noted U K Srivastava, a senior member of Chottanagpur Passengers Association.