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This is an archive article published on November 11, 2024
2023 Jaipur-Mumbai train shooting: Trial begins against dismissed RPF cop
The complainant in the FIR had said that he was also on duty on the train where the incident took place.
Tikaram Meena, 57, of the Railway Protection Force, died while trying to stop his colleague constable Chetan Singh from opening fire on passengers on the Jaipur-Mumbai Central Superfast
(Express)
The Dindoshi sessions court in Mumbai on Monday began trial against dismissed Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable Chetansinh Chaudhary, accused of shooting dead his senior colleague and three passengers on a moving train in 2023.
The first witness in the case began his deposition in the case in which the witness is the complainant, Amay Acharya, also an RPF constable, present on duty at the time of the incident. Chaudhary is facing charges, including of murder, for allegedly gunning down his senior colleague and three passengers on the Jaipur-Mumbai Central Superfast Express on July 31, 2023.
The court heard the examination-in-chief of the complainant. His cross-examination by Chaudhary’s lawyers is likely to take place at the next hearing on November 27.
The complainant in the FIR had said that he was also on duty on the train where the incident took place. He had said that on July 31, 2023, his senior RPF Assistant Sub-Inspector Tikaram Meena, who was also on duty on the train had told him that Chaudhary was unwell.
The complainant had told police that Chaudhary was asking Meena to let him alight at Valsad station and that Meena had told him that since only a few hours of duty was left, Chaudhary could alight and rest once the train reached Mumbai. He said in the complaint that Meena had asked him to take Chaudhary’s rifle and let him rest. Acharya told the police in his complaint that Chaudhary had forcefully taken a rifle from him after resting for 10-15 minutes.
Subsequently, Acharya said that he had heard that there had been a firing on Meena. Acharya told the police that when he went towards the coach to check, he saw three passengers running who told him that Chaudhary had fired at Meena.
Acharya stated in the FIR that he feared getting shot at and hence hid in a coach, from where he claimed he saw Chaudhary fire. After someone pulled the chain to halt the train, he saw Chaudhary walk on the tracks towards Mira Road, the FIR stated.
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Acharya was also dismissed from service, along with another RPF constable, for allegedly “failure to discharge their duty”. Chaudhary is lodged in Akola jail. His lawyer, Jaywant Patil, has filed an application seeking that Chaudhary be moved to a jail in Mumbai so that in-person legal consultation can take place with him. The court has sought reports from two jails — Mumbai Central Prison and Taloja Central Jail. The reports were not received on Monday.
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