Stone-pelting on Shatabdi Express: 2 suspects held after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on board
Synopsis
Stones were hurled at the Lucknow-New Delhi Swarna Shatabdi Express near Firozabad while RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was on board — a single shattered windowpane, no injuries, but two suspects in custody and investigators now probing whether the act was random or targeted.
Key Takeaways
Stones were pelted at the Lucknow-New Delhi Swarna Shatabdi Express near Firozabad at approximately 7:15 PM on 12 June .
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was travelling on the train; neither he nor any other passenger was injured.
The stone shattered the windowpane of seat number 54 in AC First Class coach E-1 .
Two suspects , believed to be rag-pickers, were apprehended by RPF and UP Police after CCTV footage review.
A case has been registered under Section 152 of the Railway Act ; police are probing for any sinister motive.
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Uttar Pradesh Police jointly apprehended two suspects on Thursday, 12 June after stones were hurled at the Lucknow-New Delhi Swarna Shatabdi Express near Firozabad, a train on which Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat was travelling. No injuries were reported; the incident has prompted a formal case under the Railway Act and an ongoing investigation into possible motive.
How the Incident Unfolded
The stone-pelting occurred at approximately 7:15 PM as the express passed through Firozabad district in the Prayagraj division, shortly after crossing Makkhanpur station. A stone struck the windowpane of seat number 54 in the AC First Class coach E-1, shattering the glass. According to a statement issued by the Railways, there was no human injury and no damage to the interior of the train.
Railways Additional Director General (ADG) SK Bhagwat confirmed the details to reporters: 'When the Swarna Shatabdi Express was passing through around 7:15 PM, in which Mohan Bhagwat was also travelling, someone threw a stone, breaking the windowpane of the AC First Class coach. Fortunately, no one was injured.'
Security Response and Arrests
Once the train reached Tundla station, additional RPF personnel were deployed to ensure the safety of passengers and the train. A case was subsequently registered under Section 152 of the Railway Act, on the complaint of an RPF personnel.
Investigators scanned CCTV footage from cameras installed in the area and identified two individuals — believed to be rag-pickers — who were seen roaming near the tracks. One of them was reportedly captured on camera in the act of hurling a stone at the passing express. Both suspects were apprehended following the joint RPF-UP Police operation.
Investigation and Possible Motive
Police are conducting a detailed investigation into the incident and are examining whether there was any sinister motive, according to officials. The presence of the RSS chief on board has lent the episode heightened scrutiny, though authorities have not formally attributed intent beyond what CCTV evidence has established so far.
This comes amid periodic incidents of stone-pelting on trains across Uttar Pradesh, which have prompted repeated calls for enhanced surveillance along railway corridors. The involvement of a high-profile passenger makes this particular case a focus of close official attention. A fuller picture of motive is expected as the investigation progresses.
Point of View
But the episode also underlines a persistent vulnerability: stone-pelting on trains in UP remains a recurring problem that infrastructure alone cannot solve. The presence of a high-profile passenger has amplified scrutiny, yet investigators have been careful not to assign motive prematurely. That restraint is appropriate; the evidence so far points to opportunistic rag-pickers, not a coordinated act. The real question authorities must answer is whether existing Railway Act penalties are deterrent enough, given how frequently such incidents recur along this corridor.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the Shatabdi Express carrying Mohan Bhagwat?
Stones were pelted at the Lucknow-New Delhi Swarna Shatabdi Express near Firozabad on 12 June while RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was on board. A stone shattered the windowpane of the AC First Class coach; no passengers were injured.
Were any arrests made in the stone-pelting case?
Yes, two suspects — believed to be rag-pickers — were apprehended by the RPF and UP Police after CCTV footage from the area identified them near the tracks. One was reportedly seen on camera hurling a stone at the train.
Was Mohan Bhagwat injured in the incident?
No. Railways officials confirmed that neither Mohan Bhagwat nor any other passenger suffered any injury. The stone struck the windowpane of seat number 54 in the AC First Class coach E-1 but did not damage the interior of the train.
What legal action has been taken?
A case has been registered under Section 152 of the Railway Act on the complaint of an RPF personnel. Police are conducting a detailed investigation and examining whether there was any sinister motive behind the attack.
Where exactly did the stone-pelting incident occur?
The incident occurred as the train passed through Firozabad district in the Prayagraj division of Uttar Pradesh, shortly after crossing Makkhanpur station, at approximately 7:15 PM on Thursday, 12 June.
