New Delhi: The Railway Protection Force (RPF) jawan who shot dead four people in a moving train Monday, including his senior, was “not feeling too well and lost his calm”.
The Railway Police said the arrested jawan, Chetan Singh, killed his senior first and then “shot whoever he saw”, resulting in the death of three passengers on the Jaipur-Mumbai train. “There was no argument,” the police said.
#WATCH | Mumbai: Western Railway Police Commissioner says, "He (RPF constable, Chetan Kumar) wasn't feeling well and lost his calm…There was no argument." pic.twitter.com/oeVDb0ZHEJ
— ANI (@ANI) July 31, 2023
Singh opened fire with his automatic revolver on the Jaipur Express around 5.23 am Monday after the train had crossed the Palghar station – 100 kilometres from Mumbai.
He shot RPF assistant sub-inspector Tikaram Meena and three passengers in the B5 coach before jumping off the train near Dahisar. Kumar was on escort duty in the train.
He was later arrested and his service weapon recovered from him.
Western Railways soon announced an ex-gratia for the next of kin of deceased ASI Tikaram Meena. Rs 15 lakhs would be given from Railway Surksha Kalyan Nidhi, Rs 20,000 for funeral expenses, Rs 15 lakhs as death-cum-retirement gratuity, and Rs 65,000 as general insurance scheme.
Chetan Singh is reportedly from Hathras in Uttar Pradesh and was attached with Mumbai’s Lower Parel RPF post. His senior Meena, who was apparently due for retirement in 2025, was from Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan.
Meena is survived by his 80-year-old mother, his wife and a son, 35, and daughter, 25, NDTV reported.
The Railways has also said the family members of the deceased passengers will be compensated.
According to officials, four RPF personnel, including Singh and Meena, boarded the train at Surat for escort duty.
The two other personnel are being questioned as part of the investigation into the deaths.
Also read: RPF constable shoots dead 4, including ASI, on board Jaipur-Mumbai Central Express