A dramatic incident happened on Bihar’s Jan Hit Express when a suspected mobile snatcher ended up hanging outside a moving train for several kilometres when alert passengers caught hold of him during an attempted theft.
As early as one of the suspects attempted to take the phone off a passenger in the train, the police said, but the passengers ran to the scene and quickly grabbed him before he could escape.
Witnesses say that the accused was left hanging outside the moving train, and passengers were still holding on to him to prevent him from escaping. The train travelled nearly nine kilometres before it reached the Khagaria railway station, where the GRP (Government Railway Police) took the suspect into custody.
The accused has been identified as Barkat Mansoori. Initial investigations revealed that he has been involved in mobile snatching and theft cases, and further checks of his criminal record are ongoing, said the police.
Fortunately, the suspect survived the ordeal despite hanging outside the moving train until it reached the station. When the train arrived at Khagaria, GRP personnel secured him and began legal proceedings.
The incident has attracted online attention, and videos and photographs are still circulating.
Railway authorities have repeatedly advised passengers to be vigilant while traveling and to inform railway staff or the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) if they notice suspicious activities or criminal attempts.
Police are still investigating the sequence of events as to what went wrong and whether or not the accused was acting as a lone individual or as part of a wider group to steal from trains.
People shouldn’t take matters into their own hands when they are in front of moving trains, they said, because they are very dangerous in this case, and moving trains can be life-threatening. Instead, they said, railway security personnel should be notified if they can, to protect public safety as well as the lawful handling of suspects.
The case is another reminder of the importance of staying alert while travelling on trains and securing personal belongings, particularly mobile phones and valuables, which are common targets for snatchers.
