Himalaya Harbinger, Rudrapur Bureau.
The Government Railway Police (GRP) in Rampur of Uttar Pradesh have arrested two men for placing a stolen telecom pole on railway tracks, endangering a running train on Sunday. The accused, Sunny alias Sania alias Sandeep Chauhan, a resident of Malik Farm near Dibdiba, and Vijendra alias Tinku, a resident of Sodhi Colony, in Bilaspur of Uttar Pradesh were caught after police analyzed CCTV footage and questioned locals. Both admitted to stealing the pole to fund their drug addiction.
Notably, a six-meter-long iron rod was found on the railway tracks between Bilaspur Road and Rudrapur city, the railways said in a statement on Thursday, alleging that it could be sabotage. The loco pilot slammed the emergency brakes after spotting the rod and cleared the track. “On 18.09.24 at 22.18 hrs, Loco Pilot of train number 12091 reported to the Station Master of Rudrapur City that he found one 6-meter-long iron pole on the track between Bilaspur Road and Rudrapur City at km 43/10-11. Driver stopped the train, cleared the track and then started the train safely,” the Indian Railways had stated in a statement.
A case was immediately registered against unknown individuals. Pawan Kumar Srivastava, commandant of the Izzatnagar division (Bareilly) of the Indian Railways, also visited the site on Friday.
“Our teams worked diligently, analyzing CCTV footage and gathering intelligence, which led to the arrest of the two accused,” a GRP official said. During interrogation, the duo revealed they had stolen the pole from nearby but fled in panic when they saw the train approaching. Both suspects were presented in court and have been sent to jail.
