24 February,2026 08:03 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. Aklekar
RPF and GRP with the accused involved in theft in Mangala Express case.
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) of Central Railway, in coordination with the Government Railway Police (GRP), has busted a gang of thieves operating in the Igatpuri-Kasara Ghat section of the Mumbai Division.
Furthermore, in a breakthrough, the authorities also cracked a separate theft case in Solapur Division in two coordinated operations.
Acting on multiple complaints of thefts in the Igatpuri-Kasara ghat stretch, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) formed a joint task force comprising personnel from Kasara and Igatpuri, the Crime Prevention and Detection Squad (CPDS), and GRP/Igatpuri. The team conducted sustained surveillance in the stretch and adjoining areas.
On January 12, during surveillance, the team apprehended two persons red-handed for allegedly stealing a passenger's luggage on Train No 12618 UP Mangala Express (Ernakulam-Hazrat Nizamuddin).
The accused were identified as Ravindra Namdev Dhogande (26), a resident of Khadavli and a known history-sheeter, and Karan Bhimrao Bhalerao (19), a resident of Asangaon.
During interrogation, both the accused disclosed the involvement of an accomplice, Kalpesh Kanu Are (24), who was later apprehended from his residence in Balvandi. A search later led to the recovery of stolen items from the train, including gold jewellery along with six mobile phones.
As per an official statement, the arrest of the accused may help in the detection of at least five additional cases of snatching and theft of passenger belongings in the ghat section.
In a separate operation on January 17, the RPF, in coordination with the GRP, were deployed on crime prevention duty in Train no 20919 Chennai-Ektanagar Superfast Express.
Gopikrishna, the accused arrested by RPF and GRP in the Chennai-Ektanagar Superfast Express case
Around 5.30 am, when the train halted at Dudhani station in Solapur district, the team noticed a suspicious individual running from a reserved coach towards a general coach.
Acting on the situation, the suspect was intercepted and identified as Gopikrishna, a resident of Ballari district, Karnataka.
After nabbing the accused, he allegedly confessed to stealing three mobile phones as well as Rs 5,100.
Further search resulted in the recovery of stolen items, including mobile phones (one of them being an iPhone), a wristwatch, a power bank, chargers, and earphones, collectively valued around Rs 1.52 lakh.
The accused in both the cases were later handed over to GRP/Solapur. A case has been registered under the relevant sections of the Indian Railways Act and Section 147.
Central Railway officials commended the coordinated efforts of RPF and GRP in enhancing passenger safety and security. Passengers have been advised to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to railway authorities or dial 139 for assistance.
