Passenger train under attack by robbers

Neil Ray | Published: August 13, 2023 20:21:35

Train robberies are not quite uncommon in the world. Movies such as the Newton Boys (1998) based on the worst train robbery in American history at Rondout, Illinois, as early as 1924 have made viewers across the world familiar with the daredevilry, thrill, suspense and trauma involved in the whole episode. But it was an incident of the past century. The latest and most infamous train robbery took place in India on the Salem-Chennai Express on the night of August 08, 2016.
What is remarkable here is that in both cases, passengers were not the target of the robbers. In case of the Rondout robbery, the target of the robbers was the mail car from which they emptied 52 pouches containing goods worth over $2,000,000. In the South Indian train robbery, the gang of robbers broke into the parcel van containing Rs3.42 billion soiled but usable currency notes from which the robbers decamped with Rs57.50 million.
The robbery or failed robbery, as the railway terms it, that occurred on Friday night on the Karnaphuli Commuter train at the outer signal of Tongi Railway Station is indeed a different one that directly targets the passengers. Train journey, comparatively safer in the country, shows how risky it can be. The incident is shrouded in mystery. Reports on the incident are at variance from one newspaper to another. However, a few common elements are there: first, robbers indiscriminately threw stones at the train, some of which found their targets---passengers that is; second, they snatched mobile (cell) phones and other valuables from the passengers; third, a ticket checker had received stab injury and finally a passenger got down to respond to nature's call (short) when the bandits came out to attack him and the train.
The contentious and controversial issues are galore here. It is reported that the dacoits wanted to storm the train but failed. If this is so, how can they snatch cell phones and other valuables from passengers. They could take away the only cell phone of the person who got down. At least one contemporary reports that the train slowed and stopped a kilometre away from the station near a jungle. Another says about 50 bandits raided the train.
The question is, if a gang has so many dacoits and they were there to waylay a train at that particular hour. Was it a coincidence that the dacoits would be there in the jungle for any other purpose but the sudden halting of the train provoked them to attack? Or, was it preplanned. Yes, that can happen, if they observe the train stops there at around 10.30 every night before entering the Tongi junction. If not, it smells a rat. Collusion between some railway staff at the station and the bandits cannot be ruled out. This should be thoroughly investigated.
What if a gang of 50 ruthless plunderers was successful in storming the compartments of the train! Those who can throw stones and could not care less if some passengers got gravely hurt and killed, could do commit the worst crime within the 10-minute stoppage time of the train there. Train journey has been fraught with risks from stone throwing within a particular segment of the track. Reportedly 10-12 spots between Dhaka airport and Joydevpur are now at risk of both pelting of stones and raids from dacoits. The railway authority should have beefed up security and informed the local police stations of the risks so that they could launch drive against the elements involved. Apparently the authority itself has failed either to arrange for the required security or to take measures in collaboration with the local police stations.
The vulnerability of trains on the tracks in the particular segment has been exposed. Although nine suspects have been arrested, there is no guarantee trains will not come under similar attacks unless the entire gang is put behind the bar and given exemplary punishment for the crime that includes attempted murder.
nilratanhalder2000@yahoo.com