In a shocking incident, as many as five passengers were robbed aboard the Yeshwanthpur–Kachiguda Express early on Saturday morning near Divitipally in Telangana’s Mahabubnagar district. According to the police, the robbers managed to stop the train by tampering with the signals around 4-4.30 in the morning. The train was plying between Bengaluru and Kachiguda in Hyderabad.
The items stolen included 299 grams of gold chains and mangalsutras, four mobile phones and cash worth Rs 10,000. Passengers reported the incident to the Divitipally railway station and also filed a complaint with the Government Railway Police in Kachiguda as soon as the train reached.
Speaking to TNM, Kachiguda GRP Inspector Ramesh said, "The robbery took place in four coaches (S2, S3, S7, S8) after the train was stopped by tampering with the signals."
According to police officials, one of the passengers said the perpetrators were teenagers. One of them, wearing a yellow T-shirt, snatched her gold chain as she leaned out of the window in a bid to catch him.
All of the victims hail from different parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Ramesh added, "We have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and investigation is underway."
The inspector also said that the case will be transferred to the Mahabubnagar Government Railway Police given the jurisdiction of the crime.
The Mahabubnagar District Superintendent of Police Rema Rajeshwari confirmed that the robbers tampered with the signals before committing the crime. Speaking to TNM, she said, "Local police have gone to the spot and we are trying to collect the particulars of the suspects so we can catch them as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, Additional Director General of Police (Railway and Road Safety) Sandeep Shandilya, who took note of the robbery, is also on his way to Mahabubnagar.