Navy Officer's Wife Found Dead After Boarding Wrong Train
The Government Railway Police (GRP) in Etawah has registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against train ticket examiner Santosh Kumar following the tragic death of Arti Yadav, a 30-year-old woman married to an Indian Navy chief petty officer. The incident occurred on November 26 when Arti's body was discovered along the railway tracks between Samhon and Bharthana stations.
Confusion Over Train Schedule Leads to Tragedy
According to the First Information Report (FIR), Arti Yadav had been traveling to New Delhi for a medical consultation at the Army Hospital (Research and Referral) when she became caught in a confusing railway situation. She was originally scheduled to take the Barauni–New Delhi Clone Special (02563) on Tuesday night, but the train experienced significant delays exceeding 10 hours.
In the resulting confusion, Arti mistakenly boarded the Patna–Anand Vihar Terminal Special Fare Special (04089) on Wednesday morning. Her father, Anil Kumar, stated in the FIR that she entered coach S-11, where the confrontation with TTE Santosh Kumar allegedly occurred over her reserved ticket.
Witness Accounts and Family Allegations
Fellow passengers in the coach, including Raj Vaibhav from Ghaziabad, provided statements claiming they saw the TTE throw Arti's luggage from the moving train and then push her off the vehicle. The investigation revealed that Arti's body was found approximately 4 kilometers away from where her belongings were discovered, raising serious questions about the sequence of events.
Ajay Yadav, Arti's husband and an Indian Navy chief petty officer, shared heartbreaking details with reporters. "Just three days before her death, Arti had returned to her parents' home in Kanpur from Mumbai, where I'm currently posted," he revealed. "She planned to visit the Army hospital in Delhi for a medical consultation. My father, Bhagwan Singh, was the first family member to receive the devastating news about her death."
The couple, who married in February 2020, had no children. At the time of the incident, Ajay was in Chennai undergoing naval training.
Conflicting Narratives and Investigation Status
Circle Officer Etawah GRP, Udai Pratap Singh, presented a different perspective, stating, "Prima facie, it appears the victim jumped off the train, but we are thoroughly probing the matter and recording statements of co-passengers." However, GRP officials have not yet arrested the accused TTE, Santosh Kumar.
Anil Kumar, Arti's father, strongly dismissed the police officer's claim, calling it a deliberate attempt to protect the railway employee. "Why didn't the TTE stop the train or seek medical help? What's the purpose of the alarm chain in the train coaches?" he questioned angrily. "Even after reaching Etawah Junction, which is 30 km from Samhon station, the train continued its journey. My daughter was murdered, and authorities are trying to protect their image."
North Central Railway's chief public relations officer, Shashikant Tripathi, confirmed that TTE Santosh Kumar remains on active duty despite the serious allegations. "An FIR has been lodged, and GRP is investigating," Tripathi stated. The accused TTE is currently posted at Prayagraj NCR's headquarters.
The case has drawn significant attention to railway safety protocols and the conduct of railway staff, with the investigation continuing to unfold as more witness statements are collected and evidence examined.
