Five special teams formed to nab train robbers in Salem

Alarmed by the situation, Director General of Police (Railways) C Sylendra Babu on Monday convened a meeting of senior police officers to discuss the measures to be taken to prevent similar incidents.

Addressing newspersons, DIG Balakrishnan said investigations have been carried out in multiple angles. “Passengers should alert police if they come across any suspicious persons. Details of habitual offenders operating in a similar modus operandi has been collected and are being examined. Five special teams have been formed to nab the culprits,” said DIG Balakrishnan.

According to police, the gang had been striking in trains operating in the Magudanchavady-Pallipalayam stretch. More than 300 cops combed the Mavelipalayam area through Saturday night in search of the culprits, they said.

Trains running in this stretch slow down to a speed of 20 km in view of the ongoing railway bridge works. Taking advantage of the slow speed, the robbers get into reserved compartments of trains during odd hours and relieve women of their gold jewels, police said.

Within a span of three hours, the gang struck four trains, namely the Mayiladuthurai-Mysuru Express, Alapuzha-Chennai Express, Coimbatore-Chennai Cheran Express and Kochuveli-Bengaluru Express, in the early morning hours on May 4. Based on complaints from the victims, a team of police rushed to the spot and increased the vigil. Yet, on the very next night, the gang again struck two trains on the same stretch. The accused managed to escape by hurling stones on the cops, sources said. So far, nine women have claimed to have lost 24 sovereigns to the robbers and have filed complaints.

After holding preliminary inquiries, police suspect a north Indian gang to have been involved in the crime. It has also been decided to post armed cops in all trains plying between Erode and Salem.