Train robbers escape with booty worth Rs 5 lakh near Khandwa

A band of robbers targeted an Indore-bound passenger train in the early hours of Friday and decamped with cash and valuables worth Rs 5 lakh. The incident occurred aboard the 52988-Akola-Mhow train.

A band of robbers targeted an Indore-bound passenger train in the early hours of Friday and decamped with cash and valuables worth Rs 5 lakh. The incident occurred aboard the 52988-Akola-Mhow train between Akot-Hiwarkhed section of South Central Railway, some 110km from Khandwa, police and eyewitness said.

Kadir Mansuri, a vegetable seller from Khandwa, who was travelling in the train, said as soon as the train reached Hiwarkhed station, 8-10 youths entered the bogies and started looting. "One of them came near me and snatched Rs 28,000 and a cellphone on knife point," he said.

Another passenger Ranjit Kumar Joshi, a resident of Washim (Maharashtra), said he was sleeping when around 3.15am some robbers struck his bogie. "When I tried to oppose, one of them stabbed me in my leg. They later disappeared in the jungle," he said.

According to Government Railway Police ASI, GD Dubey, valuable worth over Rs 5 lakh including cash, jewellery and cellphones were looted. "Robbers injured many passengers, who later proceeded for their destinations after first-aid," he said.