Daijiworld Media Network- Anantapur
Anantapur, Apr 29: In a shocking incident that has sent shockwaves across the state, unidentified robbers struck the Nizamabad-Tirupati Rayalaseema Express in the early hours of Tuesday, looting passengers in a daring heist near Gooty town in Anantapur district.
According to preliminary reports, the incident occurred around 1.30 am when Train No. 12794 was halted on the outskirts of Gooty to allow the Shalimar-Vasco-da-Gama Amaravati Express to pass. Taking advantage of the halt, the miscreants barged into as many as 10 sleeper coaches and allegedly threatened passengers at knifepoint, snatching gold ornaments, cash, and other valuables.
As panic gripped the train, the robbers swiftly carried out their operation before vanishing into the darkness. At least 20 victims, upon reaching Tirupati in the morning, registered official complaints with the Railway Police. The initial estimate suggests that the robbers made away with nearly 20 tolas of gold and an undisclosed amount of cash.
Railway authorities have confirmed that a formal case has been registered and investigation is underway. Special teams have been deployed to trace the culprits, with suspicion falling on inter-state gangs, possibly linked to Bihar or Chennai.
Tuesday’s incident has once again raised serious questions about passenger safety during night journeys. Several passengers expressed their outrage and demanded immediate beefing up of security measures in long-distance trains, especially in crime-prone stretches.
This is not the first such incident in Andhra Pradesh. On April 2, a similar robbery occurred aboard the Chandigarh-Madurai Express between Allur Road and Padugupadu stations in Nellore district. In that case, the robbers had tampered with railway signals using rupee coins to halt the train and looted passengers with alarming ease.
Railway Police officials acknowledged the recurring pattern in these attacks and assured that stricter patrolling and surveillance mechanisms would be implemented soon.
With rising concerns from the traveling public, authorities are under pressure to deliver swift justice and restore passenger confidence.