A 40-year-old labourer from Madhubani district was allegedly drugged and robbed by criminals while travelling home from Mumbai to celebrate Diwali and Chhath with his family, in a disturbing incident reported from Darbhanga district, Bihar, on Thursday, 5 November 2026. The victim, Arun Ram, son of Kamal Ram and a resident of Kapileshwarsthan village under Rahika police station limits, was found unconscious on the roadside along the Darbhanga-Jaynagar National Highway early Thursday morning.

How the Incident Unfolded

According to family members, Arun Ram had travelled by train from Mumbai and arrived at Darbhanga Junction late on Wednesday night. He subsequently boarded an auto-rickshaw to reach his native village in Madhubani. During the journey, he allegedly fell prey to a gang suspected of targeting late-night passengers by administering intoxicating substances — reportedly either through inhalation or by mixing narcotics into a consumable.

Taking advantage of his unconscious state, the perpetrators allegedly made off with his mobile phone, cash, bag, and other belongings before abandoning him on the roadside near Mohani Pul on NH-527B, between Hajipur and Khirma, under the jurisdiction of Kewati police station.

Discovery and Medical Treatment

Local residents spotted Arun Ram lying unconscious near Mohani Pul on Thursday morning and immediately alerted the Kewati police. A police team reached the scene and shifted him to the Community Health Centre (CHC) at Kewati-Runway, where he was receiving treatment at the time of this report. Doctors were monitoring his condition, and he reportedly remained unconscious when last updated.

His family members rushed to the hospital upon learning of the incident. They said Arun Ram had been returning home with his hard-earned savings specifically to celebrate the festive season with his loved ones.

Police Investigation Under Way

The Kewati police have launched a formal investigation into the incident. Authorities are examining CCTV footage from Darbhanga railway station through to Ladari Chowk in an effort to identify the suspects and reconstruct their movements.

This is not an isolated occurrence. Reports of passenger drugging and robbery — often targeting migrant workers returning home during festive periods — have been documented on this corridor in previous years, raising persistent questions about passenger safety on night-time routes.

Safety Concerns for Festive-Season Travellers

The incident has amplified concerns over the vulnerability of labourers and migrant workers travelling late at night during high-footfall seasons such as Diwali and Chhath. Passengers arriving at smaller junctions after midnight with cash savings and minimal local support networks have repeatedly been identified as targets by organised drugging gangs in Bihar and adjoining states.

Authorities are yet to make any arrests; how quickly the probe progresses will likely determine whether the broader safety gap on this route is addressed before the peak of the festive travel rush.