West Bengal: Rail passengers allege robbery, halt train for 45 minutes

Malda: Passengers of Kolkata-Jogbani Express on Saturday protested at Malda Town station alleging a gang looted valuables near Rampurhat, prompting RPF to detain passengers for not letting the train to move.

Four passengers were detained by RPF for pulling chain and refusing to allow the train leave Malda Town station for 45 minutes but there was no formal complaint by the passengers, a Government Railway Police (GRP) officer said.

The officer, however, said the passengers during the agitation informed a gang raided S2 coach before Rampurhat station in the wee hours and took away belongings from passengers brandishing arms.

They disembarked before the train neared Rampurhat by pulling alarm chain at around 5 am and the TTE did nothing to stop them or alert the authorities, the passengers alleged demanding the gang be immediately brought to book.

The train finally left Malda Town station at around 6.30 am for Jogbani in Bihar. The GRP official said the matter was being investigated.