Be warned, the next victim could be you
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Thursday, October 11, 2012 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/2012101120121011023725748ae1489f9/Be-warned-the-next-victim-could-be-you.html)
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| Accused Rakesh Chauhan is on the run |
A 50-year-old ‘gentleman’ offered spiked tea to a Bopal couple and a Dwarka resident aboard Haridwar Mail before escaping with valuables worth Rs 1.25L. The elderly couple was rushed to the ICU
Next time you travel by train and your co-passenger offers you coffee or biscuit, think twice before accepting it. Bopal couple Mahesh and Gayatri Raval lost valuables worth Rs 1.25 lakh and landed in the ICU after consuming tea offered by a ‘friendly’ passenger. The 60-year-olds boarded Haridwar Mail on September 21. Already seated in the compartment cabin were Mayank Vayda, a resident of Bet Dwarka and another who identified himself as Ashok Khurana, 50.
Mahesh and Gayatri Raval were admitted to Meerut General Hospital‘s ICU. While his condition improved within two days, Gayatri battled death for four days
Sophisticated and sporting an iPhone, Khurana came across as a ‘knowledgeable gentleman’ who could hold interesting conversations on religion and religious texts. The four soon got talking and Khurana learnt that the trio was on their way to Haridwar. After the train crossed Ajmer, the men started playing cards to pass time. Ashok then suggested they have coffee and asked the attendant to get a flask of milk. Since Mayank’s aged father was in 2nd AC compartment, Khurana told his copassengers that he’ll offer a glass of milk to him and come back.
Neither Mayank nor the Ravals doubted Ashok’s intentions. In fact they were in awe of the gentleman who kept them entertained. Little did they know that under the pretext of meeting Mayank’s father in the other compartment, Ashok had in fact planned to spike the milk. Ashok laced the milk with sedatives after he had offered a glass to Mayank’s father.
‘SPIKED MILK’
He offered a cup of milk to Gayatriben before making coffee for Maheshbhai and Mayank. Ashok, however, did not have coffee or milk saying he had undertaken a religious vow. The four passengers then switched off the lights and went off to sleep around 9 pm. Before the train reached Meerut around 7 am the next day, the attendant opened the cabin door and found three passengers lying unconscious, their bags opened and their belongings scattered on the seats and the floor. Ashok was missing.
‘BATTLED DEATH IN ICU’
Suspecting burglary, the attendant immediately alerted the TTE who informed the railway protection force. Mayank and the couple were rushed to Meerut General Hospital. Mayank’s condition was reported to be stable, but the couple was admitted to the ICU. While Mahesh’s condition improved after two days Gayatri battled death in the ICU for four days. Ashok had stolen Rs 1.25 lakh worth of valuables and cash which included money tucked in the elderly woman’s blouse. He removed Mayank’s gold chain and rings, but apparently recognised a gold-coloured bangle in Gayatriben’s hand as imitation and did not take it off. “Had the railway cops not taken us to Meerut hospital, I probably would have lost my wife. Never again will I trust a passenger.
We cancelled our plans to go to Haridwar and returned home,”said Maheshbhai. His son Paresh said that he was in touch with his parents till 9 pm on September 21. “They told me that a gentleman named Ashok was accompanying them and that they were quite impressed with his knowledge of texts and scriptures. I heaved a sigh of relief since I thought they were safe and in good company. But I got a little worried when my parents did not take my late night calls. The next day, an RPF jawan informed me about the incident. I was shocked,” said Paresh. He added, “While my father’s condition was improving, my mother was still critical. So I got her admitted to a private hospital. By the grace of God, both are fine now.”
‘FLIGHT AFTER ROBBERY’
Government Railway Police in Meerut recorded the victims’ statement and got a sketch of the accused made. The sketch matched with the photograph of one Rakesh Chauhan, a Lucknow resident. When the cops showed them Chauhan’s photograph they immediately recognised him as Khurana. Chauhan, whose modus operandi is to drug and rob train passengers, has five cases registered against him, sources said. After conducting robbery on the trains, he usually takes a flight to his destination, sources said.
‘PHONE SWITCHED OFF’
Senior Divisional Security Commissioner Sumati Shandilya said, “As per the details we have received, GRP has identified the accused as Rakesh Chauhan. Chauhan had booked the ticket at Ahmedabad reservation centre. We have the CCTV footage of the same. Meerut GRP has been trying to trace the location of the accused but he has switched off the phone. The cops said that the documents on the basis of which Chauhan got the SIM card were forged. “ He added, “Earlier, such fraud cases were reported from general compartments and second class sleeper coaches.
But now, AC coach passengers are being targeted since usually moneyed people travel in AC compartments. To ensure such incidents do not occur, we make regular announcements and also distribute pamphlets.” Some time ago, a man dressed as a sadhu offered spiked raisins to a general compartment passenger and fled with his valuables before the train reached Nadiad.
Next time you travel by train and your co-passenger offers you coffee or biscuit, think twice before accepting it. Bopal couple Mahesh and Gayatri Raval lost valuables worth Rs 1.25 lakh and landed in the ICU after consuming tea offered by a ‘friendly’ passenger. The 60-year-olds boarded Haridwar Mail on September 21. Already seated in the compartment cabin were Mayank Vayda, a resident of Bet Dwarka and another who identified himself as Ashok Khurana, 50.
Mahesh and Gayatri Raval were admitted to Meerut General Hospital‘s ICU. While his condition improved within two days, Gayatri battled death for four days
Sophisticated and sporting an iPhone, Khurana came across as a ‘knowledgeable gentleman’ who could hold interesting conversations on religion and religious texts. The four soon got talking and Khurana learnt that the trio was on their way to Haridwar. After the train crossed Ajmer, the men started playing cards to pass time. Ashok then suggested they have coffee and asked the attendant to get a flask of milk. Since Mayank’s aged father was in 2nd AC compartment, Khurana told his copassengers that he’ll offer a glass of milk to him and come back.
Neither Mayank nor the Ravals doubted Ashok’s intentions. In fact they were in awe of the gentleman who kept them entertained. Little did they know that under the pretext of meeting Mayank’s father in the other compartment, Ashok had in fact planned to spike the milk. Ashok laced the milk with sedatives after he had offered a glass to Mayank’s father.
‘SPIKED MILK’
He offered a cup of milk to Gayatriben before making coffee for Maheshbhai and Mayank. Ashok, however, did not have coffee or milk saying he had undertaken a religious vow. The four passengers then switched off the lights and went off to sleep around 9 pm. Before the train reached Meerut around 7 am the next day, the attendant opened the cabin door and found three passengers lying unconscious, their bags opened and their belongings scattered on the seats and the floor. Ashok was missing.
‘BATTLED DEATH IN ICU’
Suspecting burglary, the attendant immediately alerted the TTE who informed the railway protection force. Mayank and the couple were rushed to Meerut General Hospital. Mayank’s condition was reported to be stable, but the couple was admitted to the ICU. While Mahesh’s condition improved after two days Gayatri battled death in the ICU for four days. Ashok had stolen Rs 1.25 lakh worth of valuables and cash which included money tucked in the elderly woman’s blouse. He removed Mayank’s gold chain and rings, but apparently recognised a gold-coloured bangle in Gayatriben’s hand as imitation and did not take it off. “Had the railway cops not taken us to Meerut hospital, I probably would have lost my wife. Never again will I trust a passenger.
We cancelled our plans to go to Haridwar and returned home,”said Maheshbhai. His son Paresh said that he was in touch with his parents till 9 pm on September 21. “They told me that a gentleman named Ashok was accompanying them and that they were quite impressed with his knowledge of texts and scriptures. I heaved a sigh of relief since I thought they were safe and in good company. But I got a little worried when my parents did not take my late night calls. The next day, an RPF jawan informed me about the incident. I was shocked,” said Paresh. He added, “While my father’s condition was improving, my mother was still critical. So I got her admitted to a private hospital. By the grace of God, both are fine now.”
‘FLIGHT AFTER ROBBERY’
Government Railway Police in Meerut recorded the victims’ statement and got a sketch of the accused made. The sketch matched with the photograph of one Rakesh Chauhan, a Lucknow resident. When the cops showed them Chauhan’s photograph they immediately recognised him as Khurana. Chauhan, whose modus operandi is to drug and rob train passengers, has five cases registered against him, sources said. After conducting robbery on the trains, he usually takes a flight to his destination, sources said.
‘PHONE SWITCHED OFF’
Senior Divisional Security Commissioner Sumati Shandilya said, “As per the details we have received, GRP has identified the accused as Rakesh Chauhan. Chauhan had booked the ticket at Ahmedabad reservation centre. We have the CCTV footage of the same. Meerut GRP has been trying to trace the location of the accused but he has switched off the phone. The cops said that the documents on the basis of which Chauhan got the SIM card were forged. “ He added, “Earlier, such fraud cases were reported from general compartments and second class sleeper coaches.
But now, AC coach passengers are being targeted since usually moneyed people travel in AC compartments. To ensure such incidents do not occur, we make regular announcements and also distribute pamphlets.” Some time ago, a man dressed as a sadhu offered spiked raisins to a general compartment passenger and fled with his valuables before the train reached Nadiad.
