Was the recent robbery of jewellery worth Rs 1.8 lakh from a few women passengers aboard the Mangalore train, at Eliyur, near Mandya, a well hatched plan?

Such an incident has occurred on the section between Bangalore and Mysore junction, for the first time in the past few decades, much to the concern of the police.

According to sources, it was indeed a pre-planned crime as the miscreants had cut the wires connecting the junction box and home signal at a point situated, one km away from Eliyur railway station, which is just four kms away from Mandya.

After cutting a wire in the junction box near the track, another wire connecting the junction box and home signal had also been cut, thus disconnecting the signals. Except for the red light, the other two, blue and green, had gone off.

The Station Master of Mandya Railway Station, who came to know about the same at around 11.30 pm, instructed a point man to check what was wrong. He expressed apprehension that an untoward incident may take place. But, all his efforts to alert the driver of the train to stop the train went in vain.

Escaped in dark

In the meantime, the alleged dacoits had accomplished their task through the window, before disappearing in the dark with the booty. When the point man arrived after half-an-hour, the passengers on board briefed him about the incident. At the Mysore Railway Police Station, the cops took details of the thieves from a victim.

According to the victim, the miscreants had covered their faces with masks, wore shorts and were dark in complexion.

“A gang with a similar modus operandi and fully knowing the railways technology had robbed passengers of a train, near Bangarapet of Kolar district in 2007, sources said. Following the incident, four cops have been deputed on duty at the spot for investigation.