JOIN USRobbers strike as train halts at signal
Armed with country-made pistols and sharp-edged weapons, some assailants robbed over half dozen commuters of a passenger train that was waiting for a go-ahead at Old Iron Bridge near Old Delhi railway station on Wednesday night.
The incident took place around 10:30 pm between Shahdara Junction and Old Delhi Junction when the 54307 Moradabad-Delhi passenger train was awaiting the green signal.
Police said around six men armed with knives and guns entered one of the compartments of the train and robbed many people of valuables worth thousands of rupees.
Those who resisted the robbery, were also beaten up by the assailants, police said. As soon as the train began moving, the robbers took advantage of poor light and decamped with the loot.Railway officials and police were informed of the incident by the petrified passengers as soon as the train arrived at the station. The injured were rushed to a nearby government hospital for treatment and were discharged after being administered first aid, said a police officer.
Meanwhile, the Railways came under fire from several passengers who alleged that the train was deliberately halted at that location despite darkness prevailing there and the possibility of an attack and robbery.
Vikas Dhillo, one of the victims, said he travelled by the same train everyday and alleged that it was a routine practice by railway officials to halt the train at dark places.He said the train should be halted at Shahdara railway station instead of areas which are prone to such crimes.
Sources said the entire stretch of railway tracks between Shahdara and Old Delhi railway station have been infested by numerous small gangs who have been quite active.A 26-year-old man was found shot dead on the tracks near Shahdara station a few weeks ago.
Sanjay Bhatia, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Railways), said a case has been registered against unknown perpetrators and efforts are on to nab the culprits based on descriptions provided by the victims.