Monday’s incident in which a 10-year old boy was seriously injured when a palm-sized stone was hurled at the Ernakulam-Madgaon Superfast Express, near Edappally railway station, brings to light the threat posed by anti-social people.
The boy, Adnan Razi, who belongs to Kannur who sustained serious injuries has been hospitalised. Last year, a 19-year-old boy was booked after he threw stones at a train which damaged the locopilot’s cabin.
Residents said that incidents of stone pelting along the Vaduthala-Perandoor Canal stretch that leads to the Edappally railway station were quite common.
Three years ago, a group of children playing with an air gun pulled the trigger which hit the loco pilot of a moving train and injured him, 4 km off this location.
Schoolchildren are often found loitering on the track during the afternoon hours. There are also reports that the area is a haven for drunkards who reportedly pelt stones at trains for the heck of it. Police officials, investigating the case, said that they suspect the incident took place in drunken revelry.
Several beer bottles were found at the site. Government Railway Police (GRP) officials told ‘City Express’ that 20 minutes after the stone was thrown at the Erankulam-Madgoan superfast Express, the people had chucked stones at the Ernakulam-bound Duronto Express and damaged the window of an A/C coach.
“The Ernakulam-Madgaon Express was running on the higher track while the Duronto Express was on the lower track. We suspect that the assailants had thrown the stone from the higher side. Since nobody was injured when a stone was thrown at the Duronto Express, the incident was reported only when the train stopped at the Ernakulam railway station,” GRP officials said.
The stones which were used by the assailants have been seized from the two trains. The youths in the area were grilled by the railway police. The North police, Kalamassery police, Railway Protection Force are also involved in the investigation.
Residents have called for tight police patrolling along the Vaduthala-Perandoor rail route leading to the Edappally railway station.
“The deserted area is ideal for anti-social people. Two years ago, such incidents were rampant but stopped when police began patrolling. After the police withdrew from the duty citing practical reasons, no untoward incidents were reported till recently. “Though anti-social people are back, the situation was calm, except for Monday’s incident,” said a Vaduthala resident, Sanil K.