Rajasthan railway track blast: Parents say arrested Mahakdeep Kaur was 'beyond control'
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The parents of Mahakdeep Kaur, one of two individuals arrested in connection with the railway track blast near 50 GB village in Ramsinghpur, Sri Ganganagar district, Rajasthan, have spoken out publicly for the first time, saying their daughter was 'beyond their control' and refused to heed their counsel. The explosion, which occurred on 3 November, narrowly missed a passenger train that had passed the spot moments earlier.
What the Family Said
Mahakdeep Kaur's father, Trilok Singh, told reporters that his daughter had left home two days before the blast and did not return until three days after the incident. He said the family had repeatedly tried to guide her, but to no avail.
'Whenever we tried to counsel or guide her, she would behave inappropriately with us as well. Therefore, we eventually stopped trying to advise her,' Trilok Singh said.
Her mother, Sarbjit Kaur, echoed this account, saying Mahakdeep would leave home at will and return whenever she chose. 'Mahakdeep had studied up to Class 12. She had married of her own choice and, after two years of marriage, divorced her husband. It has now been six months since the divorce,' Sarbjit Kaur said.
The Arrests and Investigation
Mahakdeep Kaur and a second accused, Devendra Singh, have both been arrested in connection with the blast, according to officials. Both are reportedly residents of Gurdaspur, Punjab. Several other aides have also been detained, police confirmed.
An intensive questioning of the arrested suspects is currently underway, with significant revelations expected. Bikaner Inspector General of Police (IGP) Omprakash and Superintendent of Police (SP) Harishankar are leading the interrogation. IPS officer Nitin Chaudhary, Circle Officer (City) of Sri Ganganagar, is overseeing the broader investigation.
The Blast and Its Aftermath
The explosion took place on 3 November, shortly after a passenger train had cleared the stretch — averting what could have been a catastrophic derailment. Railway authorities immediately suspended train movement on the affected section as a precautionary measure, leading to the cancellation of several trains.
Services were restored on 5 November following completion of repair work and mandatory safety inspections, confirmed North Western Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Amit Sudarshan. The Railways subsequently lodged a complaint against unidentified persons at Ramsinghpur police station, prompting a formal investigation.
Wider Context
The Sri Ganganagar blast is among a series of incidents targeting railway infrastructure that have raised alarm over security on India's rail network. This comes amid heightened vigilance by central and state agencies on potential sabotage attempts on rail lines, particularly in border-adjacent districts. The involvement of suspects from neighbouring Punjab has added another dimension to the probe, with investigators likely to examine possible cross-border links.
As questioning intensifies, authorities say further arrests cannot be ruled out. The findings from interrogation are expected to shed light on the motive, the network behind the blast, and whether the incident was part of a larger conspiracy.