A tragic incident unfolded on the Jaipur-Mumbai Central Superfast Express (Train No. 12956) as an RPF Constable named Chetan Singh went on a shooting spree, resulting in the deaths of four individuals, including an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI). The dreadful incident occurred near Palghar railway station in Maharashtra.
Chetan Singh, known for having a short temper, suddenly opened fire from his official automatic weapon at approximately 5 a.m. on that fateful day. His targets included his RPF colleague, ASI Tikaram Meena, who was in charge of the escort duty, and three passengers on the train. The shooting claimed the lives of ASI Tikaram Meena, two identified passengers named Ajgar Abbas Shaikh (aged 48) and Abdul Kadarbhai Mohammed Hussain Bhanpurwala (aged 62), and another unidentified passenger.
The authorities quickly responded to the incident, and Constable Chetan Singh was arrested while attempting to flee. The police recovered his weapon, an ARM Rifle, at the scene. Chetan Singh’s violent actions were carried out without any provocation or altercation. He simply lost his temper and unleashed the fatal shots on his victims.
The Western Railways initiated a high-level investigation into the matter, and the accused constable was associated with the Lower Parel unit. The RPF and Government Railway Police took swift action and apprehended Chetan Singh at Mira Road, aided by railway officials.
Earlier, the four-member RPF team had escorted the Dadar-Porbandar Saurashtra Express up to Surat station in Gujarat before being assigned to guard the Jaipur-Mumbai Central Express on its return journey. Such escort parties typically consist of GRP and RPF personnel who ensure the security of long-distance trains in their respective railway divisions.
This horrifying incident has shaken the railway community and raised concerns about the mental health and stability of personnel responsible for passenger safety. The authorities are conducting a thorough investigation to understand the motives behind this tragic shooting and to prevent such occurrences in the future.
