As many as nine iron rods were recovered from a railway track in Bathinda, Punjab, on Sunday. According to ANI, the Government Railway Police (GRP) said the iron rods were found on the Bathinda-Delhi railway track. They added that a case had been registered against unknown persons, and an investigation was underway.
The suspected attempt to derail a train followed several similar incidents where objects, including cylinders, have been found on railway tracks.
On September 18, two people were arrested in connection with an alleged derailment bid targeting the Naini Jan Shatabdi Express, where a 6-metre-long iron pole was placed on the tracks between Bilaspur Road and Rudrapur City railway stations in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh.
On Wednesday, the loco pilot of the Naini Jan Shatabdi Express averted a possible accident when he slammed the emergency brakes on spotting the iron pole across the tracks, officials said, alleging that it could be sabotage, as per a PTI report.
On Sunday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Railways), Moradabad, Anil Kumar Verma said a case had been registered by the GRP in Rampur and a team directed to investigate the matter. Sunny alias Sania alias Sandeep Chauhan and Bijender alias Tinku, both residents of Rampur district, were subsequently nabbed by the GRP. While Sunny was arrested from Rudrapur, Bijender was nabbed from Bilaspur.
During interrogation, the duo reportedly said they often went to the spot to drink alcohol. That day, they got drunk and allegedly attempted to steal a pole lying there. Verma said while they were carrying that pole, they heard the horn and saw the lights of the train, following which they left the pole on the tracks and ran away.