The Government Railway Police personnel on board the Hyderabad-bound Chennai-Kacheguda Egmore Express opened one round of fire at Vanganur railway station near Gooty in Anantapur district in the small hours of Thursday reportedly to quell a mob of robbers, who allegedly struck coach No. 11, and decamped with a gold chain from a woman passenger.
The gang, believed to be around 15 members, had tampered with the signalling system to make the train halt outside the station.
Deputy SP (GRP-Gooty Section), S. Madhu told The Hindu that on finding the doors locked, one of the gang members carried his accomplice on his shoulders, who reached the window and robbed a woman, identified as Manjula of Hyderabad, sleeping on the side lower berth, of her gold chain by putting his hand through the bars.
Suspecting foul play at the train stopping at the vulnerable section, known for robberies, the GRP personnel, who were in the adjacent compartment, on spotting the robbers, opened one round of fire in the air. “The robbers ran helter skelter into the bushes by the track side,” the DSP said.
There were only two GRP personnel on duty when the incident took place, the official said.
The woman had informed the GRP personnel that she would lodge a complaint at Kacheguda railway station. The train resumed its journey after the railway staff restored the signalling system.
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