Theft on Rajdhani
Three passengers robbed while they were sleeping; thieves struck in the early hours of Tuesday when the train was between Ajmer and Abu Road
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Wednesday, August 14, 2013
(http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/3/2013081420130814015904262f3bb5cd7/Theft-on-Rajdhani.html
Thieves struck the Ahmedabad- bound Swarnajayanti Rajdhani Express on Tuesday morning and stole three handbags containing valuables worth Rs two lakh. According to the complaints registered with Government Railway Police (GRP), Abu Road, the burglars stole three handbags from sleeping passengers, emptied the bags of valuables and dumped the empty handbags near the coach attendant’s berth. The thefts took place between Ajmer and Abu Road.
Senior DSC (Divisional Security Commissioner), Railway Protection Force (RPF) Sumati Shandilya, who was travelling by the same train said, “As we approached Palanpur, I came to know that three people, in three separate coaches in the train, had been looted of their handbags.” Sanjay and Swati Jha, software engineer couple and residents of Noida who were travelling to Ahmedabad with their children were among the victims.
“The four of us went to sleep around 1.30 am on Tuesday. Swati woke up around 4 am and looked for her mobile phone in her handbag when she realised the bag was missing. She had slept with the bag near her head. We immediately informed the attendant. We later found the bag lying near the attendant’s berth — it had been emptied of all valuables worth Rs 55,000 including Rs 25,000 cash, gold and silver jewellery, two mobile phones and credit cards. We informed the TTE and later filed an FIR with GPR, Abu Road,” said Sanjay.
Delhi resident Rakesh Yadav, an officer with L&T who got off at Abu Road, shared a similar experience. “Around 4.30 am, my wife woke up to realise her handbag was missing. The attendant found the stolen handbag lying near his berth. We have lost a lot of cash, some jewellery, a mobile phone and credit cards,” said Rakesh. GRP officials said that an NRI, Pooja Ratna, travelling to Ahmedabad was also looted of Rs 7,000, $150 along with credit cards and some other documents.
While Sanjay was travelling in AE-1 (second AC), Rakesh was travelling in B-1 while Pooja was in A-2. Sumati said, “The doors of all coaches on the train are closed. So we are investigating the involvement of railway officials and passengers too. The Palanpur-Ahmedabad stretch is under jurisdiction so we have ensured an RPF squad does regular rounds of the train in the stretch and even does videography. However, we do not have control over other divisions.” Corroborating this, Railway Divisional Manager Alok Tiwari said, “After an increase in the number of thefts on this route, the Railway Board called authorities from North Western Railway and Western Railway to discuss the need for increase in security.”
Thieves struck the Ahmedabad- bound Swarnajayanti Rajdhani Express on Tuesday morning and stole three handbags containing valuables worth Rs two lakh. According to the complaints registered with Government Railway Police (GRP), Abu Road, the burglars stole three handbags from sleeping passengers, emptied the bags of valuables and dumped the empty handbags near the coach attendant’s berth. The thefts took place between Ajmer and Abu Road.
Senior DSC (Divisional Security Commissioner), Railway Protection Force (RPF) Sumati Shandilya, who was travelling by the same train said, “As we approached Palanpur, I came to know that three people, in three separate coaches in the train, had been looted of their handbags.” Sanjay and Swati Jha, software engineer couple and residents of Noida who were travelling to Ahmedabad with their children were among the victims.
“The four of us went to sleep around 1.30 am on Tuesday. Swati woke up around 4 am and looked for her mobile phone in her handbag when she realised the bag was missing. She had slept with the bag near her head. We immediately informed the attendant. We later found the bag lying near the attendant’s berth — it had been emptied of all valuables worth Rs 55,000 including Rs 25,000 cash, gold and silver jewellery, two mobile phones and credit cards. We informed the TTE and later filed an FIR with GPR, Abu Road,” said Sanjay.
Delhi resident Rakesh Yadav, an officer with L&T who got off at Abu Road, shared a similar experience. “Around 4.30 am, my wife woke up to realise her handbag was missing. The attendant found the stolen handbag lying near his berth. We have lost a lot of cash, some jewellery, a mobile phone and credit cards,” said Rakesh. GRP officials said that an NRI, Pooja Ratna, travelling to Ahmedabad was also looted of Rs 7,000, $150 along with credit cards and some other documents.
While Sanjay was travelling in AE-1 (second AC), Rakesh was travelling in B-1 while Pooja was in A-2. Sumati said, “The doors of all coaches on the train are closed. So we are investigating the involvement of railway officials and passengers too. The Palanpur-Ahmedabad stretch is under jurisdiction so we have ensured an RPF squad does regular rounds of the train in the stretch and even does videography. However, we do not have control over other divisions.” Corroborating this, Railway Divisional Manager Alok Tiwari said, “After an increase in the number of thefts on this route, the Railway Board called authorities from North Western Railway and Western Railway to discuss the need for increase in security.”
