The court finds the railway employee guilty after evidence, witness statements and confession
KHANDWA — A railway court has sentenced a railway employee to six years of rigorous imprisonment for placing a detonator on tracks in an attempt to stop an army special train, according to officials.
The court delivered its verdict on Tuesday (28 April), in connection with a 2024 case from Khandwa district in Madhya Pradesh. The accused, identified as Sabir alias Shabbir, was also fined ₹5,000 after being found guilty under relevant provisions of the Railway Act and the Railway Property (Unlawful Possession) Act.
According to a press release issued by the Railway Protection Force (RPF), the court reached its decision after considering witness statements and other evidence. Officials said the court treated the matter seriously, noting that the accused was himself a railway employee at the time of the incident.
The case dates back to 18 September 2024, when an army special train travelling from Jammu and Kashmir to Karnataka was forced to stop between Dongargaon and Sagphata stations. Investigators said a detonator placed on the tracks exploded, bringing the train to a halt.
An RPF officer said, “This was a serious incident involving the safety of a train carrying army personnel. All evidence was examined carefully before the court reached its decision.”
During the investigation, agencies recovered fragments and the outer casing of the exploded detonator from the site. The probe involved several agencies, including the RPF, the Intelligence Bureau (IB), the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the state police, and local police.
A key breakthrough came with the help of the RPF dog squad. According to the press release, a sniffer dog named ‘James’ tracked the scent from the scene for nearly eight kilometres, leading investigators to the accused.
An official involved in the probe said, “The dog squad played an important role. The tracking helped narrow down the suspect, which was later supported by other evidence.”
Officials added that during questioning, the accused admitted to his involvement in the act. The motive behind the incident was not clearly detailed in the official statement.
Legal experts said the judgment sends a message about the seriousness of offences that put railway safety at risk. One legal observer noted, “Any attempt to interfere with railway operations, especially involving trains carrying security personnel, is treated as a grave offence.”
Authorities have not indicated any wider conspiracy beyond the actions of the accused. The investigation agencies, however, had carried out a detailed inquiry given the sensitive nature of the case.
The RPF said in its statement that ensuring the safety of railway operations remains a top priority and that strict action will continue against those found endangering public safety.
