Hyderabad: Stone pelters target gadget users

Hyderabad: While people pelting stones at Express trains may not sound like a crime but the motive is to steal gadgets of passengers. Not only stones, even sticks are thrown at passengers when a train is stopped at signals, said a senior officer of the railway police.

Explaining their modus operandi, Vijay Lal, inspector of Kacheguda railway police, said, “They target people who stand near the window. They make sure that they have enough time to pick up the gadget and run before the passenger chases them.

In a recent case in December, an eight-year-old girl was hurt in a train in Falaknuma by the stones pelted by two men, Nizam and Shareef. “The duo were pelting stones at the train in Falaknuma. Her father, Parthasarathy, alerted home guards about the incident who later nabbed the duo,” added the official. During the investigation, it was revealed that their motive was to steal gadgets from passengers.

Rajendra Prasad, deputy superintendent of the railway police, said, “Crooks usually target trains at signals and isolated areas. Apart from stones, they also use sticks to take away the devices from the hands of passengers. As passengers cannot get down immediately, the crooks flee easily.”

The railway police is increasing patrolling on railway tracks to curb the menace as passengers are getting hurt, said a senior official, and added that signals at Secunderabad, Vikarabad, Kacheguda stations are the prime spots for the perpetrators.

“We have deployed special teams during the peak hours. These teams, along with the railway protection force, will cover the areas prone to such offences. Our regular patrolling team is also keeping a vigil,” Mr Prasad added.