Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (EP)
Udupi, Oct 14: Passengers in Mangala Lakshadweep Express train running from Delhi to Ernakulum were robbed of cash and jewellery worth lacs after consuming curds laced with intoxicant offered by their fellow passengers.
Kinnimulki residents Railway Yatri Sangha treasurer Ramachandra Acharya (60) and his elder sister Radhamma(75) are the victims of robbery.
The incident happened when Ramachandra Acharya was returning from Nasik to Udupi with Radhamma and two more of his sisters Seema Rao and Tulasi Upadhya who were in another bogey.
Ramachandra had gone to Nasik with his three sisters to take part in the Vaikunta Samaradhane of the husband of his elder sister at Pejawar Math branch there on Sunday night, October 7. As their work was over, Ramachandra and Radhamma were returning on Thursday, October 11 in S3 bogie and other two sisters in S2 bogey.
Two men about 50 years old speaking in Hindi were travelling inS3 bogie in which Ramachandra and Radhamma were travelling. They spoke to each other and got acquainted. Ramachandra offered food brought by them which was accepted by the men. The men said that they are textile merchants and travelling from Delhi to Kerala. As the train reached Chilpon railway station, the two men gave curds to Ramachandra and Radhamma. While Ramachandra only ate half of it and threw the remaining part, Radhamma ate all of it. They became unconscious after that.
Ramachandra got back to senses when the train reached Kundapur at 1 am on Friday night. Rs 15,000 cash from his pocket, another Rs 15,000 from the purse, mobile, three sovereign gold chain of Radhamma, Rs 15,000 cash from Radhamma and new clothes worth Rs 2,000 were missing.
Ramachandra immediately informed their sisters in another bogie. Radhamma was still in the influence of drug. Radhamma was lifted and brought out when the train reached Udupi Indrali railway station and admitted to private hospital in Udupi. She was discharged from the hospital on Saturday.
A complaint stands registered in Railway police station.
As per the complaint, no TCs had come to check tickets during their journey to Nasik and back. Ramachandra said that there may be more robbers in the train. “Non-verification of tickets makes the robbers easy to go scot-free,” he said.