Mysuru: Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel of the Mysuru Division caught a suspected thief red-handed while he was allegedly carrying railway property at Ashokapuram railway station during the intervening night of August 26 and 27.
According to Girish Dharmaraj Kalagonda, Divisional Commercial Manager and PRO of Railways, the incident occurred while RPF personnel were on duty at Ashokapuram Yard.
A constable noticed a person moving suspiciously while carrying an electric motor. When the man allegedly attempted to escape, the constable alerted senior RPF personnel and pursued him.
An RPF team was subsequently sent to the spot, where the suspect was detained.
Suspect caught carrying electric motor
Mujamil Khan, a constable with the RPF in Mysuru, was on duty at Ashokapuram Yard when he noticed the suspicious movement.
The person was reportedly carrying an electric motor while moving through the railway premises.
When the suspect attempted to flee after being noticed, Mujamil alerted Dinesh Kumar, Post Commander of RPF, Mysuru.
The constable continued to pursue the suspect while an RPF team was immediately dispatched to the location.
The team managed to detain the person and began questioning him regarding the electric motor in his possession.
Motor allegedly stolen from condemned coach
During the investigation, the detained person was identified as Ashish, 26, a resident of Bihar.
The electric motor he was carrying was valued at around Rs 4,000.
Further investigation reportedly established that the motor had been taken from a condemned railway coach at Ashokapuram station.
The recovery of the railway property led the RPF to register a case against the accused.
Further action is being taken according to the applicable rules and procedures.
The incident highlights the role of RPF personnel in monitoring railway yards and other railway premises, particularly during night hours when unauthorised movement can be difficult to detect.
RPF recovers lost mobile phone
In a separate incident, Mysuru RPF personnel recovered a passenger’s lost mobile phone under Operation Amanat.
The phone had reportedly been left behind by a passenger travelling on Train No. 16021, the Chennai–Mysuru Express.
After the train arrived at Mysuru railway station, RPF received information that a passenger had accidentally left the mobile phone inside the coach.
Following the information, Rudramurthy, Head Constable with the RPF, conducted a search of the concerned coach.
The search resulted in the recovery of the mobile phone.
The handset was valued at approximately Rs 10,000.
Phone returned after verification
The recovered mobile phone was subsequently handed over to passenger K Jayalakshmi, 44, a resident of Chennai.
The phone was returned after the passenger’s details were verified by the RPF personnel.
The recovery brought relief to the passenger, who had accidentally left the device behind on the Chennai–Mysuru Express.
Jayalakshmi appreciated the prompt assistance provided by the RPF personnel in locating and returning the phone.
Operation Amanat is aimed at helping passengers recover belongings that are lost or left behind during train journeys and at railway stations.
RPF action strengthens passenger security
The two incidents demonstrate the different aspects of the RPF’s responsibilities at railway stations and yards.
In the Ashokapuram case, quick action by the constable after noticing suspicious movement helped prevent the suspected removal of railway property.
The immediate alert to senior personnel and subsequent deployment of an RPF team resulted in the detention of the suspect and recovery of the electric motor.
In the second case, the RPF responded to a passenger’s report regarding a lost mobile phone and successfully located the device inside the train coach.
The recovery and subsequent return of the phone after verification ensured that the passenger was reunited with the valuable item.
The RPF has continued to play an important role in protecting railway property, maintaining security at railway premises and assisting passengers in distress.
The Ashokapuram incident also serves as a reminder that railway yards and coaches, including condemned railway stock, remain under security surveillance. Unauthorised removal of railway equipment can lead to legal action.
Meanwhile, the recovery under Operation Amanat highlights the importance of passengers promptly informing railway authorities when they lose belongings during a journey.
The Mysuru Division’s recent actions have helped both safeguard railway property and provide assistance to passengers, with cases being handled according to established procedures.