Police in Gujarat have apprehended three youths for throwing stones at the premium Vande Bharat Express near Surat. Investigators found that the act was not driven by robbery, enmity, or organized vandalism, but purely carried out by the suspects for personal amusement and fun. The reckless incident endangered high-speed railway operations and resulted in damaged window panes on the passenger train.
Incident Unfolded Between Utran and Surat Railway Stations
The stone-pelting took place at approximately 11:30 pm on the night of October 18, when the train was moving between Utran and Surat railway stations. The Vande Bharat Express was completing its journey from Udaipur City toward Surat when the miscreants began pelting stones at the speeding train. The barrage directly struck coach C-6 as well as the train's pantry car, startling onboard passengers late in the night.
Three Window Panes Shattered; Passengers Unhurt
Due to the direct impact of the stones thrown at high speed, three glass panes across two windows of the train were shattered. Despite the sudden attack and the resulting property damage, none of the traveling passengers or onboard railway staff sustained any injuries. Timely containment of the damage ensured that the train was able to reach its destination safely without physical harm to anyone inside.
CCTV Surveillance Led to Arrests Under Railway Act
Railway police immediately launched a formal investigation into the attack and scrutinized extensive CCTV recordings captured from cameras installed along the tracks and surrounding locations. The visual surveillance helped investigators identify the exact individuals involved, leading to their capture on Friday evening.
According to Railway Police Inspector Dinesh Yadav, the arrested individuals have been identified as Golu Kumar Chaudhary, aged 22, along with 18-year-old Sandesh Kumar and 18-year-old Mantosh Mukhia. All three suspects hail from Bihar and had been employed as laborers for the past two years at an industrial factory situated adjacent to the railway tracks. During interrogation, the suspects admitted that they threw stones merely for thrill and leisure. Police have registered a case against all three under Section 153 of the Railway Act and are proceeding with further legal formalities.
