Two train passengers drugged, relieved of cash, gold

Two Keralites heading home for Onam fell latest victim to train robbery gang which relieved them of cash and jewels after drugging them, railway police said on Thursday.

Two Keralites heading home for Onam fell latest victim to train robbery gang which relieved them of cash and jewels after drugging them, railway police said on Thursday.

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MS Shekhar (35) of Vallithode in Pathanamthitta district and Seetha (60) of Ernakulam were travelling from Mumbai by the Ernakulam bound Mangala Lakshadweep Express were found unconscious when the train arrived in Kannur on Wednesday.

While Shekhar lost a bag containing Rs 52,000 in cash along with gold chain weighing 20 gms, the woman lost a ring, two bangles made of gold and an imitation chain.

The two, admitted to the district hospital here, regained consciousness on Thursday and told the police that they had drank some juice offered by two youths co-passengers and soon fell unconscious.

The passengers who boarded the train on Tuesday morning along with a nun engaged friendship with two youths, who lured them to drink drugged juice.

The nun, who drew the attention of railway officials about the incident, however, did not fall into the trap of the youths as she refused to have the juice.

Railways have been cautioning train passengers against taking food and beveraes offered by strangers in view of such recurring incidents.