By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: Passengers travelling on trains in Bihar are advised to exercise caution, as theft gangs are actively operating both inside trains and on platforms. These gangs may particularly target migrants returning home for the festive season. There have been numerous incidents where passengers’ belongings were stolen while on the train. These thieves often disguise themselves as fellow passengers, and any lapse in vigilance could result in significant losses, especially for those carrying valuables such as jewellery or laptops. Here are some recent cases:
A female passenger, Ghazala Alam, travelling on the Howrah-Rajendra Nagar Express, had her trolley bag stolen. The bag contained her gold chain, ring, earrings, clothes, and other personal items. Ghazala filed a report at Rajendra Nagar Junction GRP. She was travelling from Howrah to Rajendra Nagar Junction in Patna with her father, Ghulam Jilani, and her two children. The bag was placed under the seat, but upon waking when the train reached Rajendra Nagar Junction on the morning of 5th October, they discovered it was missing. Ghazala Alam resides in Indrapuri Colony, Shastri Nagar. The Railway Police have registered a case and are investigating.
In another incident, miscreants stole jewellery from the bag of Aarti Kumari while she was boarding the Patna-Gaya MEMU passenger train at platform 10 of Patna Junction. Aarti only discovered the theft when she reached Gaya and subsequently lodged a zero FIR at Gaya GRP. The case was later transferred to Patna Junction GRP for investigation. Aarti Kumari is originally from Tekari in Gaya district.
Kumar Prabhakar, a resident of Bahadurpur Housing Colony in Agamkuan, Patna, also became a victim. While travelling to Delhi with his grandfather on the Patna-Delhi SF Special train, he placed his airbag in the coach and went to collect a bedsheet. Upon his return, he found the bag missing. It contained his gold chain, ring, PAN card, ATM card, watch, and Aadhar card. He has filed a report with the Patna Junction GRP.
In a similar incident, thieves stole the laptop and clothes of Kishan Pareek from Kamakhya Express while he was en route to Kamakhya, near Patna Junction. He has registered a case with Patna Junction GRP. Likewise, Preeti Singh’s suitcase, containing clothes and cosmetic items, was stolen from Upasana Express during her journey from Kolkata.
Izhar Alam, a resident of Churipatti in Kishanganj, reported that his suitcase was stolen after the chain securing it was cut while travelling on Kamakhya Express. The suitcase contained clothes, medicines, and important documents. Another incident involved Archana of Danapur, whose bag, containing diamond rings, clothes, and chargers worth approximately Rs. 1 lakh, was stolen on Sampoorna Kranti Express. She has also registered a case at Patna Junction GRP.
In a positive development, Patna railway police recently apprehended a gang involved in stealing passengers’ belongings. Railway SP Amritendu Shekhar Thakur reported the arrest of Saurabh Kumar and Nitish Kumar, both residents of Thankupa in Gaya. The police recovered laptops and Aadhar cards from them. During interrogation, they confessed to stealing the bags of two women from the Hatia-Islampur Express on 30th September. The victims, Pallavi Priyadarshini from Latehar and a woman named Neeta Nandani, were travelling on the same train when their bags were stolen.
