After the mayhem in Diva on January 2, the police from three stations have buckled up and arrested 52 persons for vandalizing public property and other crimes on that day. Of these, some 35 to 40 are Diva residents and not local commuters, and they are on the run, cops saud. Many of them are school dropouts, unemployed or work on wages.
Thane GRP, Dombivli GRP and Mumbra police are poring over the minutest of details to nab those who are absconding.
A police inspector from Thane Government railway Police (GRP) said, "Mostly, the accused are residents of Diva and are not frequent commuters; the latter are busy with their own routine and rarely indulge in such activities. The accused are people who have no work and just joined the mob vandalizing railway property. We visited their houses but after January 2 they went missing from home. On January 8, we got a tip-off that two accused had returned and we arrested them soon after."
He added, "We have instructed our officers not to spare anyone. After January 2, we have arrested 28 Diva residents and booked them under section 397 (robbery or dacoity with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt) of the Indian Penal Code. Investigation is on and there has been no recovery." Cash and railway tickets were stolen during the chaos that broke out at Diva and Dombivli stations after train services were disrupted for hours due to a pantograph rupture, leaving commuters angry. MAny people took advantage of the situation and looted railway counters and vandalised property, adding to the delay in services.
A senior police official from Thane commissionerate said, "We are continually trying to trace the whereabouts of the accused. About 85% of the accused are from Diva and most are unemployed. They were clearly seen pelting stones, damaging ATVMs and ticket booking offices and torching police vans. We have begun a manhunt for those absconding and will catch them soon. Some residents from different parts of Thane have approached us with video footage and it has helped us nab the accused."
Late on January 8, the Dombivli GRP arrested a woman who in her 30's in connection with the mayhem. She was seen in the CCTV footage entering Dombivli railway office and coming out shouting slogans against the railways. Senior inspector M Bagwe said, "We have shown the video to the station master and after his confirmation, we arrested the woman. We are investigating her. She was produced in court and remanded in police custody till January 10."
R Singhal, Mumbai GRP commissioner, said, "We are investigating from all ends and will not spare anyone. We will take stern action against those found guilty. Some of the accused arrested earlier have been sent to jail. But the team comprising GRP and Mumbra police officials is still investigating to get more details and to know if any of the accused were under any kind of influence."
Arrested so far
Dombivli GRP nabbed seven people including one woman
Thane GRP arrested 28 men
Mumbra police arrested 17 men
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