25 yrs on, CRPF cop on the run after shooting one dead on Cheran Express nabbed in Assam

While travelling on Cheran Express on June 6, 1996, CRPF constable Atul Chandra Das opened fire at a fellow passenger, Raja, resulting in his death. The Arakkonam Railway police registered a case, which was transferred to Kadamabathur police station.

The Kadambathur police completed the investigation and filed a final report in Judicial Magistrate court, Tiruvallur, in 2003. But by then Das had absconded after coming out on bail, and the case was pending at the Tiruvallur JM court since then.

When he stumbled upon the case while dealing with the revision filed by CRPF, Avadi, seeking the return of weapons, Justice PN Prakash took serious exception to the fact that the police were unable to apprehend Das. He then called the State police chief and other senior officers via video conference for hearing on November 4.

Following this, A Siva, SI, Pullarambakkam station, K Sarathy, SSI, and K Nagendran, head constable, Manavalanagar station were sent to Assam after making a special request to the Assam police for necessary assistance.

Meanwhile, Das, who had joined as a security officer in the University of Meghalaya, learnt that he was being tracked and went into hiding at Dhemaji district in Assam, around 600 km from Guwahati. But head constable L Palani of the Cyber Crime Cell tracked him using the mobile phone tower signal and informed the team that he was hiding in Thanganapara village.

However, when the police zeroed in with two other officers joining the team, they faced stiff resistance from the locals. Finally, with the help of armed police personnel from Assam police, they arrested Das and flew him down after obtaining transit warrant.

Lauding the police for their efforts and seeking to enter the commendation of the court in their service registers and recommending grant of a suitable award, Justice Prakash said the presence of the State police and CRPF was dispensed with.

“Now, the ball is in the court of the judiciary to ensure that accused does not escape once again from the clutches of law and proceed with the committal and trial proceedings expeditiously,” he added while posting the case for further hearing to December 17.