Armed men loot, assault train passengers in Bihar (Second Lead)

PATNA - Dozens of armed robbers looted and assaulted passengers of a Kolkata-Delhi train while it was passing through Bihar’s Lakhisarai district Friday. They also opened fire, seriously injuring a constable of the Government Railway Police, officials said.

About three-dozen men looted cash and valuables from passengers of three air-conditioned bogies of the Howrah-Delhi Lal Quila Express between Bansipur and Bhulai railway stations, about 150 km from here.

The incident took place at around 4.45 a.m. when most of the passengers and security men on duty were sleeping, a railway official said.

According to police, the robbers also opened fire and beat up passengers before they looted valuables including jewellery, cash and mobile phones at gun point.

A police officer said the passengers told police that robbers boarded the train at the Jamui railway station and barged into the AC and sleeper coaches of the train. They started looting cash and valuables at gun point.

“A constable of the Government Railway Police received a bullet injury in his abdomen and has been admitted to a hospital in critical condition,” an official said.

More than a dozen passengers were injured when they resisted the robbers.

“Some passengers were beaten with rifle butts by the robbers,” the official said.

Angry passengers later staged a protest at the Kiul railway station, shouting slogans against inadequate security.

Over a dozen train robberies have been reported across the state in the last six months.