How Did Railway Police Thwart a Robbery on Visakha Express?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Timely police intervention prevented a major robbery on the train.
- Robbers attacked police with stones, leading to shots fired.
- Authorities suspect a larger gang is involved in ongoing train robberies.
- This incident highlights growing concerns about passenger safety.
- Collaboration among law enforcement is essential for improving railway security.
Amaravati, June 29 (NationPress) – In an early morning incident on Sunday, the Railway Police took decisive action to thwart a robbery attempt on the Visakha Super-Fast Express in the Palnadu district of Andhra Pradesh.
The event unfolded near Tammulachervu in Piduguralla mandal around 3 a.m.
A group of unidentified robbers targeted multiple coaches of the train, which was en route from Bhubaneswar to Secunderabad.
Quick-thinking personnel from the Government Railway Police (GRP) on board attempted to apprehend the criminals, but the robbers retaliated by throwing stones, prompting the police to fire warning shots.
At least 10 rounds were discharged into the air, compelling the robbers to abandon the train and flee into the night.
The GRP, along with the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and local police, initiated a search for the culprits.
Two members of the gang in coach S1 attempted to halt the train by pulling the emergency chain.
Upon noticing their actions, the GRP officers moved to subdue them. However, other gang members stationed nearby began throwing stones, leading to the police firing shots.
Passengers expressed their gratitude for the swift response of the railway police, which prevented a significant theft.
The authorities suspect that approximately seven robbers were involved in the attempted heist and believe they are linked to a larger network of train robbers operating in the area.
Reports indicate that gangs from Bihar and Maharashtra are particularly active in this region.
This incident marks the third attempted train robbery within a week, escalating concerns about safety among travelers.
Just two days prior, there was an attempt to rob passengers in the S4 coach of the Visakha-Charlapalli Special train when the emergency chain was pulled near Piduguralla, but police intervention prevented the crime.
On June 26, an armed gang interrupted the Chamrajnagar–Tirupati Express by tampering with the railway signal system and successfully looted passengers in two coaches near Siddampalli railway station in Chittoor district.
Investigation revealed that the criminals had cut wires to manipulate the signal, leading to a stop 350 meters before the station. They targeted female passengers wearing jewelry and managed to steal gold chains weighing approximately 65 grams.
Despite the alarm raised by railway police, the robbers managed to escape into the night after executing their theft.