Suspected thief caught stealing a bag from a sleeping passenger. | X/ @nagmanipandey
Navi Mumbai-based journalist and social activist Nagmani Pandey has shared an unsettling experience with the Railway Protection Force (RPF) after he intervened to prevent an alleged theft at Thane Railway Station on Monday night.
According to a post shared by Pandey on Facebook and Twitter, the incident occurred while he was at the station to see off a relative traveling to Gorakhpur via the Kushinagar Express at midnight. While waiting, he noticed a fellow passenger on a nearby bench who had dozed off, leaving his bag unattended.
“I observed a man lingering suspiciously in the area. Once he realized the passenger was fast asleep, he seized the opportunity to sit beside him. The moment he got a chance, he took the bag and started walking away,” Pandey recounted.
Realizing a theft was in progress, Pandey immediately followed the suspect and called him out, demanding he return the bag. “The thief, realizing he had been caught, quickly handed over the bag and pretended to be innocent. I held him back and waited to alert the RPF,” he said, adding that he recorded the entire incident.
However, Pandey’s attempt to do the right thing was met with an unexpected response from the RPF. “Instead of appreciating my efforts, the RPF personnel were aggressive toward me. While trying to get the thief to own up to the theft, I raised my voice. The RPF personnel threatened to take me to the police station along with the thief. He spoke with little respect, which made me feel as if I had done something wrong by getting involved,” he expressed.
Shortly after, detection officers arrived and took the suspect into custody. “I don’t know what happened next, but this incident made me understand why passengers at railway stations or on trains hesitate to help others,” Pandey remarked.
When contacted, Thane RPF in-charge Surendra Koshta confirmed the incident and assured that both the action taken against the thief and the allegations against the RPF personnel would be investigated. “I am aware of the situation and have reviewed the measures taken regarding the thief. Meanwhile, the complaint about the misbehavior of our personnel is being looked into,” he stated.
