Questions regarding passenger safety during train journeys have once again come to the fore following a major theft on board a long-distance train. In a significant incident, valuables worth nearly one crore rupees along with a substantial cash amount were stolen from the bags of a mother and daughter travelling in an AC coach. The victims discovered the missing items only after reaching their destination, prompting an immediate police complaint and an ongoing investigation by the authorities.
Return journey from a family function in Nagpur
The incident took place while the family was heading back home after attending an engagement ceremony in Nagpur. Mangidevi and her daughter Dimple Rajpurोहित boarded the Madurai Bikaner Express from Nagpur to reach Nokha. During the journey, both of them were accommodated in the B-1 air-conditioned coach of the train. Mangidevi was allotted seat number twenty-five while her daughter occupied seat number twenty-eight. They were carrying two large trolley bags along with three to four other pieces of luggage, which they placed securely beneath their respective seats for the duration of the trip. The family is originally based in Desalsar village and runs a confectionery business in Warud town of Amravati district in Maharashtra, where other members of the household reside.
Theft discovered after reaching home in Desalsar village
Throughout the train journey, the mother and daughter remained unaware of any suspicious activity regarding their belongings. When the train arrived at the Nokha railway station on September 12, family members were present at the platform to receive them. They collected their luggage and travelled directly to their home in Desalsar village. However, once inside the house, when Mangidevi opened her primary trolley bag to unpack, she discovered that the contents were disturbed and the valuable items were missing. This prompted a thorough re-examination of all the luggage brought along on the trip, revealing the extent of the loss.
Massive loss of gold, silver and cash
According to the official complaint, the stolen items included approximately seventy tolas of gold jewellery, half a kilogram of silver ornaments, and eight lakh rupees in cash. The total value of the stolen cash and valuables is estimated to be around one crore rupees. Because the loss was only detected after arriving home, the exact location and timing of the theft during the extensive train route remain unclear, making the investigation more challenging for the local law enforcement agencies.
Police register case and scan CCTV footage
Following the discovery, a formal First Information Report was lodged at the Bikaner GRP police station on September 14 based on a complaint filed by Vikram Rajpurोहित of Desalsar. Station House Officer Neha Rajpurोहित stated that police have registered a case against unidentified culprits and initiated a comprehensive probe. Authorities are currently reviewing CCTV footage from the train as well as various railway stations along the route to trace the suspects. Investigators are also questioning individuals who were seated near the victims during the journey to gather vital clues and recover the stolen property.
