Twenty-five passengers on the Mumbai-Delhi August Kranti Rajdhani Express were robbed of valuables worth ₹10-₹15 lakh on Wednesday near Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh.
According to preliminary information received by the Railways Ministry, seven coaches of the train (A1, A3, B6, B7, B9, B10 and B5), all AC-2 tier and AC-3 tier, were targeted by thieves between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m.
A senior official of the Ministry said that a three-member Railway Police Force escort team of the train would be interrogated in the matter.
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The incident came to light when the train was arriving at Rajasthan’s Kota junction and the passengers woke up to find their purses and small hand bags emptied and dumped near the toilets and vestibules, as per the 11 FIRs lodged by some passengers with the Government Railway Police (GRP) at Nizamuddin Station.
Inside job?
Many passengers alleged they were drugged as they slept soundly through the robbery. Many expressed apprehensions about the involvement of the rail staff.
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“The ministry is coordinating with the GRP in the matter,” said Anil K Saxena, spokesperson, Indian Railways.
In April, robbers struck the Delhi-Patna Rajdhani Express in Bihar and stole cash and jewellery worth lakhs from sleeping passengers.