A five-member gang of dacoits robbed passengers of Rs. two lakh worth gold ornaments in Secunderabad—Gudur Simhapuri Express near Madhira in Khammam district in the wee hours on Saturday.
The dacoits fled from the night train after pulling the chain before the train ticket examiner (TTE) and other passengers reach the scene. There was no security to the night train.
According to Vijayawada Government Railway Police (GRP) the train was passing Madhira station around 3.30 am when the dacoits entered S-12, S-8, and S-7 coaches and snatched gold ornaments from the passengers.
Some passengers woke up to the dacoits’ act and raised alarm. A TTE came to the passengers rescue, but by then, the dacoits had already pulled the chain and jumped out of the train, but only after robbing Rs. two lakh worth ornaments.
When the train reached Vijayawada, the passengers lodged a complaint with GRP, which transferred the case to Madhira GRP for investigation.
No Security on night trains
Despite the Railway norms, that night running trains should have security either with GRP or Railway Protection Force (RPF), Simhapuri express runs without any security.
A GRP officer told PTI that the GRP is unable to provide security for all night trains as it is facing lack of personnel. In such cases, RPF has to provide security in trains. But due to lack of co-ordination between GRP and RPF security is not being provided to night trains, he added.
The Superintendent of Police, GRP, Vijayawada immediately called a crime review meeting this morning to assess the situation to take measures to check crimes in night running trains.
