The Government Railway Police (GRP) in Meerut has arrested 25-year-old Pankaj Rajput in connection with the death of Imam Tausif Raza Mazhari, a 35-year-old cleric from Bihar. The incident occurred on April 26 when Mazhari was allegedly assaulted and pushed out of the moving Yog Nagari Rishikesh Express after being falsely accused of stealing a mobile phone.
Details of the Incident
According to police, Rajput boarded the train at Moradabad and was allegedly intoxicated. During the journey, he made communal remarks against the cleric during an argument in a crowded coach. The confrontation turned fatal when Rajput accused Mazhari of stealing a mobile phone, physically assaulted him, and pushed him out of the moving train.
Rajput was traveling to Bareilly for a wedding function and was supposed to disembark there. However, the altercation occurred before the train reached the station. During interrogation, Rajput allegedly told investigators that he had consumed alcohol in Moradabad and continued drinking during the journey, leaving him heavily intoxicated.
Investigation and Evidence
GRP teams examined coaches 8, 9, and 10 during the probe. They contacted nearly 200 passengers using PNR details from railway reservation records, analyzed around 200 CCTV clips, and reviewed videos recorded by passengers. The evidence helped identify Rajput and establish the sequence of events inside the coach.
Passengers allegedly caught Rajput immediately after the incident and thrashed him inside the train. Some videos showed him being beaten with belts, while another clip showed him identifying himself as “Ahmed,” which investigators believe was an attempt to hide his identity. Police said he later threw away his mobile phone and wallet while fleeing to avoid being tracked.
Arrest and Legal Proceedings
GRP SHO Sushil Kumar said Rajput got off the train near Shahjahanpur after it slowed down and remained on the run. “Since he had thrown away his phone, tracking him became difficult. We examined CCTV footage from railway stations and locations between Amroha and Lucknow before identifying him and arresting him from Mughalpura area of Moradabad on Sunday night,” Kumar said.
On Monday, police shared details of the investigation with Mazhari’s wife, Tabassum, and other family members. During the interaction, Tabassum confronted Rajput and asked, “What was my husband’s fault?” Police said Rajput remained silent. Kumar stated that the investigation is in its final stages and a chargesheet will be filed soon. “We have collected substantial evidence in the case and will seek the strictest possible punishment for the accused,” he added. Rajput was produced before a magistrate and sent to judicial custody.
Family’s Concerns
Tabassum expressed dissatisfaction with the probe and maintained that her husband was innocent and may have been targeted by more than one person. She earlier alleged that he was attacked because of his religious identity, including his beard and skullcap, after he called her from the train saying he was being assaulted and asked her to seek police help at the next station.
Police said all aspects of the case are still being examined, and action will be taken if anyone else is found involved. The case, initially treated as an accident, was converted into a murder probe after the family’s complaint, audio/video material, and witness inputs were examined.
