Chennai: A 32-year-old man covered a railway signal with clothes to force a train to slow down so that he could board it and snatch a passenger’s chain on Tuesday. The Government Railway Police, who arrested Kumaresan of Villivakkam on Wednesday, said the incident happened around 6:30 am on Tuesday between Kattankulathur and Potheri. The loco pilot of the Nellai Express, headed towards Chennai, slowed down the train as the signal ahead was not visible.
That was when Kumaresan boarded the train and robbed a woman, Asutha of Thoothukudi, of her four-sovereign gold chain worth ₹4.75 lakh.
Investigation and Arrest
Based on the woman’s complaint, a police team led by Egmore Railway Police Deputy Superintendent of Police N Kavinna launched an investigation. The officers found that the signal was covered with a piece of cloth. Based on CCTV footage from railway stations and surrounding areas, the suspect was identified as Kumaresan, a resident of Villivakkam, and he was arrested.
During interrogation, police found that Kumaresan was an autorickshaw driver during the day and carried out train robberies at night. Investigators said he frequently targeted passengers travelling on slow-moving trains in areas including Basin Bridge, Korukkupet, and Royapuram. He had pending robbery cases against him at Chennai Central, Korukkupet, and Royapuram railway police stations. He was also detained earlier under the Goondas Act.
Police further found that he had adopted a method of obstructing railway signals with cloth in suburban sections to slow down or halt trains before targeting passengers.
Police Advisory
Addressing the media, Kavinna said the accused was arrested within 24 hours of the complaint. She advised passengers to remain vigilant during train journeys and immediately report suspicious movement or thefts to railway police.
