Three train robberies in 2 months with same modus operandi

  • | Saturday | 21st July, 2018

The three train robberies should act as a wake-up call for the authorities,” said Kailash Mhatre, another commuter. The thieves had cut off the wires near the signal junction box, again forcing the train driver to halt.“They cut the wires at the signal junction boxes. CLEARED SKHERNashik: Passengers travelling through Bhusawal division have been at risk for the past two months with robbers striking long-distance trains in the night. At least two more cases with similar modus operandi have been reported in the division.On Friday, over five thieves allegedly cut off the wires at the signal junction box to turn the signal red. Once the train halts, one thief props up himself with the help of an accomplice and snatches the valuables through any window.

CLEARED SKHERNashik: Passengers travelling through Bhusawal division have been at risk for the past two months with robbers striking long-distance trains in the night. At least two more cases with similar modus operandi have been reported in the division.On Friday, over five thieves allegedly cut off the wires at the signal junction box to turn the signal red. The driver of the Mumbai-bound Duronto Express was forced to halt between Jalgaon and Maheji stations. The thieves then decamped with two mangalsutras and one laptop from three passengers sleeping at the window seats.The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has confirmed that much like the Duronto Express incident, train robbers robbed passengers of Mumbai-bound Pathankot Express on June 12 and Nandigram Express heading to Mumbai on July 6.Miscreants snatched golden ornaments worth Rs 45,000 from one passenger of the Pathankot Express near Ugaon station in Niphad taluka of Nashik district on June 12 night. The thieves placed coins on the tracks at a particular circuit to indicate that the train had passed and the signal should turn from green to red.In reality, when the train reached the spot, the driver had to halt after noticing the red signal. Once the train halts, one thief props up himself with the help of an accomplice and snatches the valuables through any window. Before the sleeping passengers realise the theft, the robbers flee from the spot. The train driver has to contact the next station to get a clearance to move ahead.On July 6, three passengers from the Nandigram Express lost valuables worth Rs 1.88 lakh near Kasbe Sukene station in Nashik district. The thieves had cut off the wires near the signal junction box, again forcing the train driver to halt.“They cut the wires at the signal junction boxes. The signal could not turn from red to green and the drivers had to force stop the trains. They then stuck the passengers and fled with the booty,” RPF officials said.Railway officials said that none of the three cases had been cracked and the investigations are on. “No such cases have been reported in this region in the past three-four years at least. We suspect the involvement of robbers from other parts of the state,” said an officer.Regular travellers in the region are upset about the robberies happening in quick succession in the same area and the failure of the Railways to catch the suspects. “It’s high time that railway authorities of Bhusawal division tackle these crimes. If the authorities do not take immediate measures, it would embolden the miscreants,” said Ragini Dhariwal, a railway commuter.Many commuters wondered why the Railways have failed to the signal systems, considering the frequency of the cases. Rajesh Fokne, former member of the divisional railway users consultative committee, Bhusawal, questioned why the Railways had not put in a mechanism to prevent tampering of the signal wires. “We are talking of getting bullet trains, but there are flaws about basic infrastructure related to passenger security,” he said.The commuters have demanded more visibility of security personnel in trains, especially at night. “I feel that passenger safety must be given paramount importance. The three train robberies should act as a wake-up call for the authorities,” said Kailash Mhatre, another commuter.

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