GRP opens fire on suspects to foil train robbery in Andhra's Guntur
Synopsis
Armed with cutters and a willingness to hurl stones at police, two suspects nearly succeeded in tampering with railway signals in Guntur at 3 am — until GRP personnel fired 10 rounds to stop them. The brazen attempt is the latest in a pattern of railway crime gripping Andhra Pradesh's Vijayawada division, forcing authorities to authorise shoot-on-sight orders for signalling sabotage.
Key Takeaways
GRP personnel fired 10 rounds — six from 303 rifles and four from a pistol — at suspects near Aluru railway gate, Ponnur mandal, Guntur at around 3 am on 12 May .
Suspects were spotted carrying wire-cutting tools near a railway signal and pelted stones at police before fleeing into fields.
Police recovered a cutter, tester, and gloves from the scene; six teams are hunting the suspects.
Top officials have authorised field-level personnel to open fire on anyone tampering with signalling systems.
On 19 April , knife-wielding thieves robbed passengers on the Bengaluru-Narsapuram train in Bapatla district , reflecting a broader pattern of railway crime in the region.
Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel opened fire on suspects in Andhra Pradesh's Guntur district in the early hours of Tuesday, 12 May, foiling an attempt to tamper with railway signalling equipment near the Aluru railway gate in Ponnur mandal. The incident, which occurred around 3 am IST, is the latest in a series of train robbery attempts that have rattled the Vijayawada railway division in recent weeks.
How the Incident Unfolded
A Sub-Inspector and two Constables on routine patrol spotted two individuals moving suspiciously near a railway signal, reportedly carrying tools to cut wires. When officers attempted to detain the suspects, the latter pelted them with stones, prompting the police to open fire in self-defence. The suspects fled into nearby fields under the cover of darkness.
According to GRP Deputy Superintendent of Police Akhleshwar Rao, a total of 10 rounds were fired — six rounds from 303 rifles and four rounds from the Sub-Inspector's pistol. No injuries were reported among the police personnel.
Evidence Recovered at the Scene
Officers recovered a cutter, tester, gloves, and other tools left behind by the fleeing suspects. Senior police officials rushed to the spot immediately after the firing, and additional force from Ponnur Police Station was deployed to ensure the security of trains passing through the route.
Following the incident, six teams of GRP and local police were launched to track down the suspected robbers. A massive hunt remains underway.
A Pattern of Railway Crime in the Region
The Guntur incident is not an isolated event. Authorities have reported several recent attempts by miscreants to tamper with signalling systems in the Vijayawada division to facilitate train robberies. Notably, on 19 April, knife-wielding thieves robbed passengers aboard the Bengaluru-Narsapuram train in Bapatla district, underscoring the growing threat to railway safety in the region.
This is the latest in a string of such incidents that have prompted GRP to significantly intensify patrolling along the tracks.
What Authorities Are Doing
Top police officials have already granted field-level personnel explicit permission to open fire to prevent any attempt to tamper with the signalling system. Officials stated they would further step up security measures to safeguard railway passengers. The escalating incidents have placed the Andhra Pradesh railway network under heightened scrutiny, with authorities under pressure to deliver arrests and restore public confidence in rail travel safety.
Point of View
They signal reactive policing rather than a structural fix. The repeat incidents in the Vijayawada division suggest an organised gang with local knowledge, which demands intelligence-led operations, not just more boots on the tracks. Railway safety in Andhra Pradesh is now as much a law-and-order failure as it is a security challenge.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at Aluru railway gate in Guntur on 12 May?
GRP personnel on patrol spotted two suspects carrying wire-cutting tools near a railway signal at around 3 am. When officers tried to detain them, the suspects threw stones, prompting police to fire 10 rounds in self-defence. The suspects fled into nearby fields and a hunt is underway.
Why did GRP open fire on the suspects?
The GRP personnel fired in self-defence after suspects pelted them with stones while resisting arrest. Top police officials had already authorised field-level personnel to use firearms to prevent tampering with the railway signalling system.
How many rounds were fired and by whom?
A total of 10 rounds were fired — six from 303 rifles by constables and four from a pistol by the Sub-Inspector, according to GRP Deputy Superintendent of Police Akhleshwar Rao.
What evidence was recovered from the scene?
Police recovered a cutter, tester, gloves, and other tools left behind by the fleeing suspects. Six teams of GRP and local police are actively searching for the individuals.
Is this part of a larger pattern of railway crime in Andhra Pradesh?
Yes. Authorities have reported multiple attempts to tamper with signalling systems in the Vijayawada division in recent weeks. On 19 April, knife-wielding thieves robbed passengers on the Bengaluru-Narsapuram train in Bapatla district, highlighting a broader surge in railway crime in the region.
