Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad Railway Local Crime Branch (LCB) has arrested a man who allegedly targeted train passengers across the country by befriending them, mixing sleeping pills in their food and drinks, and stealing cash, jewellery, ATM cards and mobile SIM cards after making them unconscious. The police arrested the accused, who was involved in around 25 railway theft cases registered in different parts of Gujarat, in an undercover operation.

The accused, identified as Amit Kumar Thakur, a resident of Hyderpur near Anand Vihar railway station in Delhi, has studied only up to Class 4 and had been committing such crimes since 2022, officials said. He would travel across different states for nearly 10 to 15 days at a time, boarding long-distance trains and looking for passengers travelling alone.

According to police, the accused used to travel in sleeper coaches with valid tickets and strike up conversations with fellow passengers. After gaining their trust, he would mix the drug Alprazolam in food or beverages purchased at railway stations and offer it to them. Once the victims became unconscious, he would steal valuables including cash, jewellery, ATM cards and SIM cards from their mobile phones. Police said he avoided stealing mobile phones and instead removed the SIM cards, changed the ATM PIN using the linked number and withdrew money.

Ahmedabad Western Railway DYSP Chetan Mundhwa said a complaint regarding such incidents was registered with the Railway Police, following which LCB PI Jaideep Desai and his team began an investigation. CCTV footage from railway stations and other technical evidence led police to Thakur, after which a team was sent to Delhi. Officers kept watch near his residence for seven days while posing as labourers and street vendors before finally arresting him when he returned home.

During interrogation, Thakur allegedly told police that he regularly travelled on trains from Delhi to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan to commit thefts before returning to Delhi. Several offences were reported on routes connecting Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Kolkata and other major cities.

Police have seized about ₹2 lakh in cash, three mobile phones and other valuables from the accused. Further investigation is underway to identify additional victims.

Railway Police have appealed to passengers not to accept food or drinks from unknown persons during train journeys. Officials warned that criminals often mix sedatives in such items, posing a serious risk to passengers’ safety. In case of any suspicious incident, passengers are advised to immediately contact the Railway Helpline number 139. DeshGujarat