In a shocking incident, three railway employees were arrested on Monday for allegedly sabotaging rail tracks in Surat district. The employees, identified as Subhash Poddar, Manish Mistry, and Shubham Jaiswal, all working as trackmen, were reportedly motivated by a desire to secure night shifts and gain recognition from their superiors.
The incident occurred on September 21, when the trio allegedly conspired to derail a train near Kim railway station by removing essential components such as fishplates and elastic clips from the track. Their actions, however, were discovered before any train could be derailed.
According to police reports, the employees inspected the tracks early in the morning and alerted authorities at approximately 5:30 AM about the tampering, claiming that miscreants had removed the two fishplates. However, railway officials indicated that a train had already passed over the compromised tracks before the issue was reported, raising suspicions about the employees’ involvement.
“The time interval between the tampering being discovered and the passing of the train was too short, making it implausible for anyone to have sabotaged the tracks within that timeframe,” a senior police official stated. Investigations revealed that the accused had recorded videos of the tampered tracks, with timestamps ranging from 2:56 AM to 4:57 AM. Further examination of their mobile phones revealed that Mistry had deleted photos he had taken of the tampering.
The police also noted that the employees sought to gain praise from their seniors by creating a false narrative of sabotage, ultimately desiring to be felicitated for their “vigilance.” Their attempt to manipulate the situation for personal gain has raised serious concerns regarding the safety and security protocols within the railway system.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident and assess the potential impact on railway operations in the region. The actions of the arrested employees underscore the critical need for stringent monitoring and accountability among railway staff to ensure passenger safety.
Sources By Agencies