Refusal to be relieved early from the day’s duty drove RPF constable Chetan Singh to go on a shooting spree on board the Jaipur-Mumbai Superfast Express, killing four, including his assistant sub-inspector Tikaram Meena.
🔴 Survivor accounts and a probe into the incident revealed chillings details, with a train attendant saying the shooting reminded of Mohd Ajmal Kasab at the CST station during the 26/11 attacks. A victim’s relative recounted that Singh barged into B2 coach and asked Syed Saifuddin’s name. On learning his name, he took him on gunpoint to the pantry car and shot him.
🔴 While some passengers pretended to be asleep on their berths, others hid beneath sheets. Yet others were asked by Singh to shoot his video. The video later went viral on social media where Singh is heard saying, “Pakistan se operate hue ye, aur media yehi coverage dikha rahi hai, unko sab pata chal raha hai ye kya kar rahe hain… Agar vote dena hai, agar Hindustan mein rehna hai to mai kehta hoon Modi aur Yogi, ye do hain.”
🔴 According to a senior RPF official, Singh got the job in 2009 on compassionate grounds following his father’s death in service, but had complaints accused him of “indiscipline and insubordination”.
🔴 While Singh is reportedly not cooperating in the probe, investigators recreated the crime scene from coaches B5 to S6, apart from recording the statements of over 100 individuals related to the case of which around 20 statements are of key witnesses.
Following are the other important updates from Mumbai and Maharashtra in the past week (July 31-August 6):
Nitin Desai’s death raises questions on lending ecosystem
Renowed art director Nitin Desai, who had worked on films like Lagaan, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Devdas and Jodhaa Akbar, was found hanging at his ND Studio in Karjat on Wednesday. His death is being considered a consequence of the pressure he was facing owing to the Rs 252 crore debt he was facing.
Actor Aamir Khan pays tributes to art director Nitin Desai at ND Studio in Karjat. Desai was found dead at the studio on Wednesday. Police had said it was a suspected case of suicide due to the Rs 252-crore debt he was facing. (Express photo by Narendra Vaskar)
Crane collapse on Samruddhi Expressway claims 20 lives
A crane came crashing down on a bridge slab during construction work for the third phase of the Samruddhi Expressway in Thane’s Shahapur, claiming the lives of 20 workers on the site.
While an FIR was registered against the agencies hired to construct Package 16 of Samruddhi Expressway, the kin of the deceased workers remained inconsolable. Among the workers was Pradeep Roy, who had last seen his family in April and was planning to visit them in West Bengal during the Durga Puja festival. Meanwhile, Premprakash Kumar was saved by local villagers who rushed to the spot, but lost three of his family members in the accident.
Chrisann Pereira returns home
After 26 days in a Sharjah prison, an extended stay in Dubai over getting necessary permission to travel back to India, and battling deteriorating mental health, actor Chrisann Pereira returned home to Mumbai. An emotional video from the airport brought relief to many who followed Pereira’s case where she was allegedly framed by a man named Anthony Paul, who hid drugs in a memento carried by her and informed the Sharjah Police about the same.
Addressing reporters after her return, Chrisann expressed gratitude towards her family, Mumbai Police and fellow inmates at the Sharjah prison. Chrisann’s return also brings the focus on the return of Clayton Rodrigues, a Mumbai-based DJ who is currently lodged in Sharjan prison on similar charges. Read Mohamed Thaver’s report from the press conference
#ChrisannPereira returns to Mumbai | Actor remembers losing all hope on some days, getting support and comfort from fellow inmates, and being able to speak to her family 17 days after being lodged in jail.
Follow Live Updates: https://t.co/tmZTjZjPdS pic.twitter.com/sHrgXCUJvj
— Express Mumbai (@ie_mumbai) August 3, 2023
On the political front
NCP: Questions remained buzzing in the fractured party, with Ajit Pawar’s statement about a past difference with his uncle Sharad Pawar leaving many wondering whether the split is real. Meanwhile, Pawar senior loyalist Jayant Patil laid to rest speculation about him meeting Amit Shah and a possible switch of sides.
Monsoon Session: As the Assembly session concluded, CM Eknath Shinde called the proceedings successful, but the Opposition emerged as “confused and weak”. During the session, his deputy Devendra Fadnavis touched upon many issues, from denying a change in leadership to Pakistan benefiting from the delay in Barsu refinery to setting up an SIT to probe instances of communal colour. A logjam continued in the Assembly over the Opposition’s demand to discuss the situation in Manipur, with Uddhav Thackeray saying the BJP could not run a government.
Other important news this week:
- BEST bus strike continues; MSRTC lends a helping hand
- White Paper on 4 mega projects gives clean chit to CM Eknath Shinde govt
- Students wearing burqa denied entry; college says flouted new uniform policy
- MU forms panel to inquire into NCC student beating his juniors
- Justice Rohit B Deo resigns owing to ‘personal reasons’; had delivered key verdicts in key tenure
- Witness: Chanda Kochhar may share room with Indrani Mukerjea, Dhoot warned Deepak
- Out of jail after seven years, Divya Pahuja says she is getting used to being outside prison; read Sadaf Modak’s report on delayed trials, years spent in jails becoming ground for bail to murder accused
- Bombay HC voices concern over rise in trend of women misusing Domestic Violence Act
- Sambhaji Bhide’s Gandhi remark invites FIRs and criticism; Fadnavis says insult of national icons won’t be tolerated; PIL seeks guidelines to prevent “derogatory remarks about dead persons held in high esteem”
Photo of the week
Most Read
Activists Vernon Gonsalves (Left) and Arun Ferreira, accused in the Elgaar Parishad case, released on bail from Taloja Central Jail. (Express photo by Narendra Vaskar)
News to watch out for next week:
- The Bombay High Court to hear a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking guidelines “to prevent utterance and unrestricted circulation of derogatory remarks about dead persons held in high esteem”.
- Maharashtra Cabinet expansion likely to be discussed.
- Chetan Singh, RPF constable arrested for killing four in a train, will be produced before court on Monday.
- State government to attempt resolution of ongoing BEST bus strike.