Railway police head constable strangled, pushed in front of train; hunt on for killers

According to the railway police, the motorman of the train told the police that two unidentified men  pushed Chavan onto the track between Rabale and Ghansoli railway stations between 5.25am and 5.32am.

The motorman first informed the railway control, which in turn relayed the information to railway police control. The Vashi Railway police team was dispatched to the crime scene. They spotted Chavan lying unconscious near the tracks between the two railway stations. They rushed him to Vashi Municipal Hospital, where he was declared dead, said a GRP officer.

Chavan, who was posted with Panvel GRP, was a native of Jalgaon district and was staying in the Chinchaaadi area of Ghansoli village, Navi Mumbai.

Preliminary probe indicated that Chavan, who was off duty and was wearing plain clothes, was reportedly under the influence of alcohol.

It’s suspected that the two accused persons forced him to have more alcohol and then executed the killing. They entered the railway track premises through a pathway near Rabale railway station and then threw him in front of the local train. The accused are unknown, and the motive is unclear, said another police officer.

Chavan’s mobile phone was found on him. The police are analysing his phone calls to know who he last called and who was with him the last time.

Multiple police teams, which include officials from other GRP police stations, are checking the CCTVs of the two railway stations and checking if any of them captured movement of Chavan or persons accompanying him.

The police teams are also making enquiries with the bars and permit rooms in the nearby areas. Among various angles being probed by the police, police are also checking if Chavan attended any New Year’s party and was heading back home when he was targeted, a source said.

The Vashi GRP has registered a case under Sections 103(1) (murder) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) against the two unknown people.

“We have formed five police teams to trace the killers,” said Rajesh Shinde, senior inspector of Vashi GRP.

Chavan’s family has taken the body to his village in Almner taluka of Jalgaon district for the last rites. Chavan is survived by his wife and two school-going kids. He was the sole breadwinner in his family, said police.