Kochi: A family travelling in the disabled compartment of New Delhi-bound Kerala Express was on Saturday brutally attacked by two Tamil youths who tried to rob them of their valuables soon after the train left Ettumanoor station.
Binu, 19, and Santosh alias Ayyapan, 21, natives of Jolerpet, were caught by the local police from Kothanellor area within hours of the incident. The Kaduthuruthy police recovered the stolen items from them.
Muhammed Nazir, 52, a native of Kallambalam near Kollam, his wife Fairuseena, 38, and son Muhammed Yasim, 7, were travelling from Varkala to Piravam Road.
Since Nazir was physically-challenged, they boarded the disabled compartment in the front portion of the train.
“The youths attacked the couple when the train was approaching Kuruppanthara station at 2.20 p.m. While Nazir suffered injuries in his eyes, his wife was seriously injured in her ear, face and stomach. Their condition is stated to be out of danger and they are recuperating at the Caritas Hospital in Kottayam,” a railway official said.
The boy was spared by the robbers who pulled the chain when the train reached Kuruppanthara outer and fled with their mobile phones, gold rings and a bag.
“Two youths, one in white dhothi and the other in lungie, boarded the disabled coach while the train was halted for crossing soon after rolling out of the Kottayam station. Though Nazir warned the duo saying the said coach is for disabled, they ignored them. They then launched a brutal attack on the couple when the train left Ettumanur station. The robbers snatched the bag and gold rings from his wife. They further assaulted the couple when they resisted,” an RPF personnel said quoting Fairuseena.
The railway is arranging all help to the injured passengers, the Southern Railway said in a statement.
