Jaipur-Mumbai train firing: ASI shot for trying to stop fight was near retirement

Tikaram’s daughter Pooja Meena was inconsolable as she arrived at Kandivali’s Shatabdi hospital to collect his body. His son-in-law Premraj Meena, also a railway employee, said, “This is unbelievable. Barely a year of his service remained and this has happened.”

Premraj, a station master, lives in Kalyan with Pooja. Tikaram’s wife and son live in their native place Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan, while Tikaram lived in Dadar’s railway quarters.

“He was never involved in any scuffle or fight. Kept doing his duty. Throughout his service, there has not been a single memo, or any other issue, or even a noteworthy argument with anybody. It is unfortunate that a completely spotless service has ended like this,” said a colleague.

Another colleague said, “It cannot be said for sure whether Tikaram and the accused knew each other. Sometimes duties are assigned randomly. Their journey was about to end when this happened.”

Tikaram’s body will be taken to his home in Sawai Madhopur. “The last rites will take place in his hometown,” said a family friend.

The accused, Chetan Singh. (Express Photo)

Abdul Kadar Mohamed Hussain Bhanpurwala (64), a resident of Nalasopara who ran a diaper shop, and Asgar Abbas Ali (48), a native of Bihar who was traveling to Pune via Mumbai looking for a job, were also killed. A fourth person, whose identity is yet to be known, was also shot dead allegedly by the constable.

Kadar was returning home from his native Bhanpur village in Madhya Pradesh after Muharram break. He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.

“While the married daughter lives in Rajasthan, both sons are settled in Dubai. In fact, his wife is in Dubai currently, visiting the sons during Muharram. Kadar did not go due to health issues,” said a childhood friend, who was present at the hospital. “We have been settled in Nalasopara for 15-20 years. Since he was alone at home during Muharram, he decided to visit Bhanpur. He was returning to Nalasopara on Monday.”

Kadar’s relative Mufaddal Bhanpurwala said, “Police found a phone on him and they called my wife. We just got to know that Kadar Bhai was shot at. We know two people by the same name and weren’t sure until we finally saw his Aadhaar card at the police station.”

Mufaddal, his wife and other relatives, identified the body, until Kadar’s elder brother arrived at the hospital. “We are all natives of Bhanpur and live in Nalasopara. The entire community is shocked that Kadar bhai has been shot. It is impossible to believe as he was a calm person,” he said.

Ali, a cleric who hailed from Madhubani in Bihar, was traveling to Mumbai. “He was planning to head to Pune where he worked in a Masjid before,” said Raunak Shaikh, his wife’s sister who lives in Govandi in Mumbai.

“We saw the news on TV. But who knew our family member was there? Later we received a call and his body was shown to us on video call for identification.”

Ali’s wife Umaisa and four daughters are in Jaipur, where the family had travelled in search of work. “They are very poor. The whole family started making bangles to earn a livelihood, but things didn’t pan out as expected, so Asgar decided to go to Pune.”

Mohammad Parvej Aalam, a relative, said, “This is really unfortunate. He was a law abiding individual. The family is struggling, living hand-to-mouth. With the help of Asgar’s ticket, railway authorities approached his family in Jaipur and offered initial monetary help. The railway administration should also help in transferring the body to Rajasthan.”