Abubacker’s dream of marrying off his daughter in all splendour was in danger of being shattered when a bag containing valuables worth ₹2 lakh was ‘mistakenly’ taken by another passenger during a train journey.
A resident of Mundalloor in Kannur district, Abubacker was on his way from Kollam to Thalasserry with the valuables meant for the marriage when the bag went missing midway through the journey on Sunday. Instead, there was another bag of a similar make.
Though he alerted the authorities concerned at Thrissur railway station, the bag could not be traced. Similar was the outcome after he lodged a petition with the railway police at Thalassery railway station.
Abubacker’s daughter then spread the message through WhatsApp, which also proved futile. Later, at the advice of Chakkarakallu police in Kannur district, Abubacker travelled to Ernakulam and lodged a petition with the railway police and the North police station.
By this time it had emerged that the person who had taken the bag was an employee at a prominent shopping mall at Edappally following which the case was forwarded to the Kalamassery police.
“Rummaging through the bag, we chanced up on a piece of paper indicating that the person concerned was a staff at the mall. We also deduced that there were two of them,” said Amrut Rangan, Sub Inspector, Kalamassery police.
Abubacker went to the Kalamasserry station on Monday around 6.30 a.m. following which he was sent to Edappally in the company of senior civil police officer Mruthyunjayan and civil police officer C.P. Naushad and the bag with the valuables was given back to him.
Interrogation
The person who had taken the bag was brought to the station and interrogated.
“It was indeed a mistake as the bags looked similar. But the person had used over ₹10,000 in the bag to buy some household appliances. Besides, the bag also had premium watches.
“He had even changed the mobile SIM card to avoid being traced,” said Mr. Rangan.
