Kochi: 4 held by RPF for robbing rail passengers

KOCHI: The Railway Protection Force (RPF) at Aluva arrested four youths on Sunday for theft in a train two days ago. The accused were identified as Ali (25), son of Siddhique of Puthuponnani in Malappuram; Harish P (20), son of Rajesh of Amanoor in Kottayam; Abhilash K S (18) and Arun K S (18), twin sons of Subhash of Puthencruz in Ernakulam.

According to RPF officers, the gang carried out multiple thefts of gadgets and mobile phones from the sleeping passengers of Anthyodaya Express while it was running between Ernakulam and Irinjalakuda station early on Friday.


They were arrested by a special team of RPF at 3.30pm at Chalakkudy station. The case was registered after complaints from around 12 passengers who reported the theft at various stations like Shoranur, Kozhikode and Ernakulam.

“The gang, who boarded the train from Ernakulam, stole 12 mobile phones, a tablet and a portable mobile charger worth Rs 1.2 lakh from the passengers. After committing the theft, they jumped out of the train when the train stopped at Irinjalakuda station,” said an RPF officer.

The complainants identified the accused from a CCTV footage from Ernakulam Junction railway station and a probe was launched based on it.

“The gang tried to sell the stolen items at shops at Menaka in Kochi but dropped the plan after they did not receive the expected prize. They were planning to sell them at some place outside Kerala and reached Chalakkudy railway station to board a train. The RPF identified them and found the gadgets during inspection,” said the officer.

A case has been registered against the accused under Section 379 of IPC and they were remanded after producing before the magistrate.