Kolkata, July 2: The Railway Protection Force (RPF) of Eastern Railway has achieved a significant breakthrough by solving the mystery behind a fire that broke out in a disabled-friendly coach of a passenger train. This incident occurred on June 21 in train number 53434 (Barharwa–Azimganj Passenger).
According to reports, shortly after the train departed from platform number 2 at Barharwa station, passengers pulled the emergency chain. The train had to be halted, leading to chaos as smoke was reported from the coach.
RPF personnel on duty, including Constable Mitrunjay Kumar, Sub-Inspector Lal Bahadur Majhi, and Constable Anil Kumar, quickly arrived at the scene. During the investigation, a burning fiber lid of a Western-style toilet was found in the disabled-friendly coach’s restroom. No paper or any flammable material was discovered at the site, making the case even more suspicious.
The Barharwa RPF post registered a case against an unidentified individual under Section 153 of the Railway Act and initiated an investigation. The RPF team meticulously examined CCTV footage from Barharwa and Sahibganj stations. The suspect was identified based on their clothing and demeanor.
Under the guidance of Eastern Railway’s General Manager Milind Deuskhar, the RPF team set a trap based on confidential information and apprehended the suspect at Sahibganj station on June 29 while on the same train.
During interrogation, the accused admitted to smoking a cigarette/beedi in the coach and, in an attempt to extinguish it, rubbed it against the plastic lid of the toilet, igniting the fire. In a panic, he jumped off the slowly moving train and fled.
The suspect was presented in Sahibganj court, where he was remanded to judicial custody until July 24, 2026.
Eastern Railway officials praised the swift action taken. IG and Chief Security Commissioner Ameya Nandan Sinha commended the RPF team’s vigilance and technical investigation.
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