Kharagpur: A man arrested for pelting stones on the Howrah-Puri Vande Bharat Express has confessed that he is a snatcher and thief and was attempting to damage the train sufficiently to make it stop. He would then get an opportunity to loot passengers of their mobile phones and other belongings, the man told the Railway Protection Force (RPF).
The man has been identified as Satyanarayan Sahu (26) from Haldipada in the Basta police station area of Odisha’s Balasore district. His primary targets were the Vande Bharat and the Dhauli Express as they passed the Kharagpur Division of South Eastern Railway.
“What the man has said is extremely dangerous. He also targeted passengers of the Dhauli Express standing near the doors with stones and sticks. As they got disoriented, he would loot their mobile phones and bags. The stones can cause serious injuries to passengers,” an official said.
Sahu has been charged under Section 153 of The Railways Act that deals with endangering the lives of passengers or obstructing the trains. He stands the chance of being sentenced to up to five years, if proven guilty.
The RPF has also arrested two minors from the Hijli station in West Bengal for pelting stones at trains. The two have also confessed of their crimes in the presence of their parents. They have been forwarded to the Juvenile Justice Board.
