An unidentified thief pushed a Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) off a train and escaped in Belagavi district on Sunday.
K.M. Chinnappa of the Hubballi railway division was pushed out when he tried to stop the thief from escaping. The incident took place on the Miraj–Goa (No. 12870) train when it was exiting Raibag railway station around 4 a.m.
Mr. Chinnappa had caught the man while he was robbing cellphones of passengers who were sleeping. He, along with some passengers, made the thief sit on a bench and they sat around him keeping watch. The officer had planned to get off at the next station and hand him over to the police. But before reaching the station, the thief said he wanted to use the toilet and the officer went with him till the door. He then attempted to escape by jumping out when Mr. Chinnappa tried to pull him back in. The thief overpowered him and pushed him out. The accused also jumped off and escaped.
Passengers stopped the train by pulling the chain. They got down and helped the TTE get back on the train.
Mr. Chinnappa has suffered injuries on his head and hands. Railway officials said he was out of danger. The thief has been caught on a camera on the train and the railway police are looking out for him.
