BENGALURU: In a shocking incident, a gang of three dacoits managed to sneak into the disabled coach of the KSR Bengaluru-Kannur Express recently and rob a forty-year-old woman of her gold jewellery by brandishing a knife. It is alleged that the Railway Protection Force personnel, who were on board on escort duty, missed out on helping her. The woman, travelling with her crutches, was forced to part with her chain and a pair of bangles valued at Rs 3 lakh. The three RPF constables have now been placed under suspension and have been internally charge-sheeted.
According to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, RPF, South Western Railway Zone, D B Kasur, the robbery took place at around 10 pm on June 28 when the train (Train No 16511), that departed from Bengaluru, was nearing Sakleshpur. Owing to safety issues, the woman had latched the compartment from inside as she was the only one in the compartment. “When the train reached Hassan railway station, one of the criminals entered the coach by opening the emergency train window. He walked in and unlatched the door for his partners,” he said.
“Another passenger with speech impairment entered the coach. As the train moved from Hassan towards Sakleshpur, the gang members ordered the woman to remove her jewellery at knifepoint. The co-passenger was told to remain still. The trio decamped when the train slowed down somewhere midway before it reached Sakleshpur,” he added.“This happened despite the RPF checking the train at Hassan railway station. Before the gang entered the disabled coach, a Railway Protection Force cop knocked on the latched door and left after he found no response. He assumed the passenger was sleeping and did not bother to check on the coach occupant. It was raining heavily too.”
The train also had on board two armed RPF cops on escort duty. “All the three cops belong to the Mysuru Division and have been placed on suspension for the negligence of their duties,” Kasur said. Meanwhile, the culprits are yet to be nabbed. Another top cop said a departmental inquiry was on following their suspension. RPF, however, refused to give their names as an internal investigation was still on. “This is a very serious issue as the crime took place right under their noses. It will be dealt very firmly. The punishment could range from increment cuts to dismissal depending on the outcome of the inquiry,” the cop added.