RPF constables kills 3 Muslims | SabrangIndia News Related to Human Rights Wed, 16 Aug 2023 12:23:39 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 https://sabrangindia.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Favicon_0.png RPF constables kills 3 Muslims | SabrangIndia 32 32 RPF constable forced woman to say Jai Mata Di under gunpoint https://sabrangindia.in/rpf-constable-forced-woman-to-say-jai-mata-di-under-gunpoint/ Wed, 16 Aug 2023 12:21:23 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=29185 Another incident highlighting the brutality of the RPF constable's train rampage, as news of a burqa-clad woman forced to say Jai Mata Di surfaces

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A burqa-clad woman was forced under gun point to say Jai Mata Di according to new information that has emerged about the gruesome murderous incident involving Railway Protection Force (RPF) Constable Chetan Singh, who reportedly went on a deadly shooting spree on the Jaipur-Mumbai Central Superfast Express on July 31. The incident, which claimed the lives of four people, including a senior colleague of Singh and three Muslim passengers, has garnered widespread attention and outcry.

According to a report by The Hindu, recent investigations by the Government Railway Police (GRP) Borivali has uncovered this new disturbing episode that adds another layer to this already disturbing incident and a video has emerged depicting Singh, during his rampage on the train, had also targeted a burqa-clad woman passenger. According to the survivor’s testimony, the constable aimed his weapon at her and forced her to say Jai Mata Di at gunpoint. Following this, he instructed her to say it louder.

This harrowing incident was also captured by the train’s CCTV cameras, having the potential to provide for crucial evidence for the ongoing investigation. The woman, whose identity has been protected, has been identified as a key witness in this case.

The new information adds to the already unsettling narrative surrounding the rampage. Three of Singh’s victims were observed to be targeted based on their religious identities, evident from their appearance, including beards and traditional Islamic attire. The constable fired 12 rounds from his service weapon and made chilling proclamations in a video shared on social media which have further highlighted the religious undercurrents in this tragic incident.

Although charges related to kidnapping and promoting enmity have been added to the chargesheet, the authorities are yet to confirm the motive of communal hatred as a contributing factor in the case. This has led to several critics questioning the gravity and thoroughness of the investigation.

The investigation so far 

Chetan Singh faces serious charges. The incident, which sent shockwaves across the nation, led to the loss of 4 lives, including that of his superior, Assistant Sub-Inspector Tikaram Meena, and three passengers – Abdul Kadar Mohamed Hussain Bhanpurawala, Syed Saifuddin, and Asgar Abbas a Sheikh.

Among the charges levelled against Singh are grave offences, including murder under IPC Section 302, and IPC Section 153A, which pertains to promoting enmity between different groups based on religion, race, place of birth, and residence. These legal actions are also accompanied by sections of the Arms Act and Railways Act, reflecting the gravity of the incident that unfolded within the train’s carriages.

Investigations have unearthed a sequence of events that point to Singh’s alleged involvement in the killings. Reportedly, he utilised his automatic service weapon to unleash a barrage of gunfire, causing the violent deaths of Assistant Sub-Inspector Tikaram Meena and passenger Abdul Kadar, both within coach B5. Moving on, Singh’s alleged rampage took him to coach B1, where he purportedly shot and killed Syed Saifuddin. His violent spree culminated in coach S1, where the final victim, Asgar Abbas Sheikh met a tragic end.

Disturbingly, Singh’s alleged victims were seemingly targeted based on their religious identities. Notably, those who were visibly identifiable as Muslims, owing to their traditional attire, including skullcaps and Kurta-Pyjama, were reportedly singled out by the accused.

In a video that circulated on social media platforms, Chetan Singh can be heard expressing support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath. These utterances were made even as the lifeless body of one of the Muslim victims lay at his feet.

Family members of some of the victims have conveyed that Singh’s questioning of their religion preceded the tragic events. Allegedly, Singh also taunted the victims while vocally endorsing Modi and Adityanath. These assertions give a plausible context in which the incident occurred and the hate-filled rhetoric that surrounded it.

As the investigation unfolds, the authorities are yet to conclusively establish communal hatred as a motivating factor. Authorities have earlier also claimed that Singh might have mental illness, but this has not been substantiated or corroborated yet. In the din surrounding the incident, the motives of the assailant are yet to be determined as of yet by the police. Similarly, according to the Indian Express, a kin of the murdered, Hussain Bhanpurwala, says that GRP officials have still not disclosed the intention of the accused RPF man behind the crime.

As the investigation continues, the nation watches closely for justice to be served and for the underlying issues that led to this tragic event to be addressed. The case raises important questions about the state of religious harmony and respect for diversity within society in India, prompting conversations that go beyond this single incident.

This incident has sparked concerns about safety in the country’s minorities. Fear and anxiety have crept into public transportation, as Muslims are now wary of travelling alone in such settings. Calls for an impartial investigation against the killings continue. A human rights organisation, PUCL Maharashtra has urged for a court-monitored investigation by a Special Investigation Team or independent agency into the hate killings by RPF constable Chetan Singh. In a statement released on 8th August 2023, one of the PUCL’s demands include the need for a fair and thorough investigation, with proper evidence collection, and prosecution using relevant sections of the IPC. The group also has called for an examination of Singh’s exposure to hate propaganda, his affiliations, and sources of influence including social media. The organisation has further demanded timely trial, as well as witness protection, and compensation for victims’ families given the vulnerability of minority populations. Additionally, the organisation also stresses the larger need for swift action against hate speech, communal propaganda, and known perpetrators and highlights the urgent need for greater sensitivity in investigative authorities, the PUCL has lastly demanded that the authorities should monitor biases and prejudices among police and security forces to prevent such incidents in the future, and regular sessions should be conducted to sensitise officers to constitutional values.

 

Related: 

Charges filed in railway shooting case raise alarm over communal tensions 

The Visceral Anti-Muslim Hatred of Chetan Singh is Just a Symptom, The Disease is More Widespread 

CJP petitions NCM against arms training camps, weapon distribution events in Assam and Rajasthan 

RPF constables kills 3 Muslims, one senior, reports suggest killer picked victims from passengers

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Alarm bells must set off in the country on the hate killings by RPF constable Chetan Singh, says PUCL https://sabrangindia.in/alarm-bells-must-set-off-in-the-country-on-the-hate-killings-by-rpf-constable-chetan-singh-says-pucl/ Tue, 08 Aug 2023 07:08:41 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=29050 Day to day trial, transparent and independent investigation, fair compensation and sensitisation and training to Railway officials is a must, demands PUCL Maharashtra

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PUCL Maharashtra is shocked by the ghastly hate killings by RPF constable Chetan Singh of his superior officer RPF Assistant Sub-Inspector Tika Ram Meena and three Muslim passengers Abdul Qadir bhai Mohammed Hussain Bhanpurwala, Asgar Abbas Ali and Sayed Saifullah, onboard the Jaipur-Mumbai Central Express on July 31, 2023. In a statement issued on August 7, the human rights platform has condemned the “Increasing hate propaganda is hurtling the Indian society down such a dangerous path, where even a police officer from Railway Protection Force (RPF) is influenced enough by communal hate to carry out killings of Muslim men, identifying them by clothes and beards, inside a train.”

The statement further reads,  

“In a chilling case that has shaken the public consciousness, RPF constable Chetan Singh, 33 years old, shot dead his superior RPF Assistant Sub-Inspector Tika Ram Meena (58), from Sawai Madhavpur, Rajasthan and three passengers – Abdul Qadir bhai Mohammed Hussain Bhanpurwala (64) from Nalasopara in Palghar, Asgar Abbas Ali (48) from Madhubani Bihar, and Sayed Saifullah (43) from Hyderabad, using his automatic weapon, while on duty, on the Jaipur-Mumbai Central Express on July 31, 2023 around 5 a.m.[1], [2]

“All the three Muslim passengers had typical beards clearly identifying their religion. RPF constable Chetan Singh went to different coaches, B5, B2, PC, S-6 looking for Muslim victims and killing them. He walked from B5 (where he killed Mr. Meena and Mr. Bhanpurwala) to B2 compartment and asked Mr. Saifulla his name. As soon as he gave his name, he was taken at gunpoint by RPF consable Singh to the pantry car and shot. Thereafter he travelled to compartment S8 and S7 without hurting anyone. In S6 compartment, he shot dead Mr. Asghar Abbas Ali. RPF constable Singh, who was on escort duty, fired 12 rounds from his automatic service rifle and was finally nabbed when he was trying to flee along with his automatic service rifle.

“In a video shot by a fellow passenger (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7cCczN-IDQ), the shooter Chetan Singh can be seen holding his gun and delivering an Islamophobic rant, inter alia 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.”  (“they operate from Pakistan, and media is showing this. They all know, what they are doing. If you want to vote, if you want to stay in India, then I am telling you only two are there, Modi and Yogi”). The video clearly indicates his deep hate and motivation to murder the Muslim victims and the role that propaganda spread through media has had in influencing and instigating his hate sentiments and heinous actions.

“While an FIR was registered under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), sections 3, 25, 27 of the Arms Act and sections 151, 152, 153 of Railway Act, it is shocking that both the FIR and  remand order did not make mention of the video referred to above and his selective killing of Muslim passengers.[3] They also did not include the offences attracted on account of his hate speech and action. It has been reported that during the remand hearing before the Borivali Court on August 1, 2023 where the accused RPF officer Chetan Singh was produced and remanded to police custody until August 7, 2023, the prosecution while asking for remand shockingly stated that the accused was mentally unfit[4]. Meanwhile, the Railway had released a press statement on August 2, 2023 that no mental ailment was detected in the last periodic medical examination of the RPF constable Chetan Singh, only to mysteriously withdraw it later.[5] However, it was subsequently reported that having confirmed the authenticity of the video, the Government Railway Police (GRP) would be adding the offence of promoting hate and enmity, being section 153A of the IPC, when the accused is produced for the remand hearing on August 7, 2023[6]. In the latest reports out today, this appears to have been done and the accused has been remanded to police custody until August 11, 2023[7].

“The Indian Express news report states that as per Western Railway RPF records, the accused RPF constable Singh had against him complaints of “insubordination” while he was posted in Ujjain over five years ago and that his colleagues had complained of misbehaviour and indiscipline. It is also reported that at the time of the crime no inquiry was pending against him.

“In any case, the complaints against him in no manner support the narrative sought to be created that he is mentally unstable and if anything, shows his preexisting disposition to misbehaviour. Infact, his superiors continued to trust him with his weapon, which clearly indicates that he was expected to be acting in full thinking capacity.

“The actions of the accused RPF constable Singh appear to be calculated and motivated by his hate for Muslims, as he specifically searched for and selected Muslim victims for the cold-blooded execution and not the other non-Muslim passengers, and also conveyed his motivations through his hate tirade captured on video. It was hence completely shocking to read reports that the prosecution made a statement at the remand hearing that the accused was mentally unstable without any basis rather than prosecuting this as a hate crime.

“This would amount to a subversion of law, as hate is a known motive in many cases of grave crimes such as murder. It is entirely mischievous to even suggest that harbouring hate is akin to mental instability. Any attempt to do this would constitute an abuse of the process of law and would set a dangerous precedent. Moreover, it would deny accountability and justice to the families of the victims of this ghastly crime, which must be ensured at all costs.

“This extremely terrifying incident of multiple hate killings by a public official entrusted with the security of citizens, while on duty, raises critical questions. The most important one being the extent of the influence that the unchecked communal hate propaganda has had on the minds of the public, including police officers who are entrusted with the serious responsibility of maintaining law and order in the country. So much so that even accused RPF constable Chetan Singh got influenced by the hate propaganda against Muslims to such an extent that he handpicked and killed completely innocent persons from the Muslim community, only because of their religion.

“The current situation in Manipur where multiple reports are emerging of the complicity of the police, including where police officers allegedly led the women victims of sexual assault to the mobs[8], is another indication of the danger faced by the Nation in terms of communal influence operating amongst the police and security forces. Incidents such as this have also been reported in cases in other parts of the country, with allegations of the police standing spectator to mob lynchings, protecting perpetrators indulging in communal violence and also harassing families of victims in cases of hate crimes. While it is not surprising that the police and security forces get influenced by the overall communal atmosphere in the country it becomes alarming because they are the ones who are bearers of arms and in charge of maintaining public order.

“This crime has a dire implication for Maharashtra. Since November 2022, Maharashtra, like several other states in the country, has witnessed rallies and public demonstrations organized by extremist Hinduvta groups filled with hateful, provocative and inciteful speeches against minorities, using false propaganda and communal narratives, and calling for economic boycott and violence against Muslims. Several civil society groups including Citizens for Justice and Peace and PUCL Maharashtra[9] have issued letters to the Director General of Police, Maharashtra and concerned Commissioners / Superintendents of Police to take preventive action against hate speech at the rallies and also prosecute the offenders.

“Numerous complaints have also been filed at the jurisdictional police stations for hate speech offences committed at these events. However, the perpetrators have not been arrested till date and groups/individuals repeatedly indulging in hate speech are allowed to continue holding events and spread the hatred. The Supreme Court of India has also passed orders from time to time to curb the menace of hate speech including orders dated 13th January 2023, 3rd February 2023 and 28th April 2023[10], however the inciteful hate speech and communal propaganda have been allowed to continue.

“It is no coincidence that the increasing incidents of mob lynchings and hate crimes against Muslims, communal violence during festivals and on other communally charged subjects, is preceded and incited by an atmosphere of hate created by the uncurbed hate speech and communal propaganda.

PUCL Maharashtra, hence, demands that:

  1. A court monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) / independent investigating agency be appointed to investigate the case of multiple hate killings by RPF constable Chetan Singh of his superior officer RPF Assistant Sub-Inspector Tika Ram Meena and three Muslim passengers – Abdul Qadir bhai Mohammed Hussain Bhanpurwala, Asgar Abbas Ali and Sayed Saifullah, onboard the Jaipur-Mumbai Central Express on July 31, 2023. Timely reports of investigation be submitted to the court to ensure that the case is investigated fairly, thoroughly and without any external influence, also considering that the accused is a police officer.
  2. Ensure that all evidence is collected impartially and included in the case against the accused, including the video taken by the fellow passenger of accused RPF constable Chetan Singh delivering the hate tirade and other such video and other evidence, witness testimonies etc. It must be ensured that the case is prosecuted properly and effectively, leading the best evidence against the accused.
  3. The investigation must also look into what kind of hate propaganda the accused Chetan Singh was exposed to, whether he was part of any organization which promotes hatred based on religious identities and if he attended any such meetings. His social media accounts, media he followed / subscribed, need to be looked at to identify the sources of influence.
  4. Sections 153A, 153B, 295A and 505 of IPC should be applied in this case.
  5. The case must be tried on day-to-day basis, without any delay and be given the utmost priority.
  6. Protection must be provided to the witnesses and safety of the families of the victims must be ensured.
  7. Proper compensation should be paid and measures taken for livelihood support to families of victims by the Railways and government authorities.
  8. Government authorities both at the Centre and in all the states act swiftly to prevent and stop the spread of hate speech and communal propaganda at all costs! Investigate and prosecute the incidences of communal hate speech made at the rallies and public events in Maharashtra and take all measures to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future. Arrest the known perpetrators immediately. Ensure strict implementation of the Supreme Court orders dated 13th January 2023, 3rdFebruary 2023 and 28th April 2023 in letter and spirit.
  9. In light of the communal atmosphere prevailing in the State, the authorities must put in place mechanisms to ensure periodic checks on the biases, prejudices and hate among police and security forces, including the RPF. It must be ascertained if any other personnel are similarly exposed to hate propaganda and if so, immediate action must be taken to remove them from their charge to ensure such an incident does not take place again. The RPF must take steps to prevent hate crimes and to maintain the safety of the passengers.
  10. There should be regular sessions held by police and security forces, including the RPF, to sensitize its officers on the values of equality, non-discrimination, secularism, unity and fraternity enshrined in the Indian Constitution, emphasizing on the plural and secular nature of Indian society and their duty as public officials to uphold Indian constitution.


Related:

RPF constables kills 3 Muslims, one senior, reports suggest killer picked victims from passengers

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The Visceral Anti-Muslim Hatred of Chetan Singh is Just a Symptom, The Disease is More Widespread https://sabrangindia.in/the-visceral-anti-muslim-hatred-of-chetan-singh-is-just-a-symptom-the-disease-is-more-widespread/ Fri, 04 Aug 2023 09:10:05 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=29003 A Large Part Of The Blame Should Be Borne By The Indian Media, Who Are Peddling Non-Stop Hate Against Muslims

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It is not less than a terror strike. Despite the reluctance of most of us to call it as one. The intention, whether conscious or unconscious was to cast terror in the hearts of Muslims. All terror strikes are partly performative; so was this one. The speech that Chetan Singh gave after killing Muslims was designed for the wider consumption of an ideology of hatred to which he subscribed. In the widely circulated video, the stunned audience does not resist, making it very clear that in all other such situations, Muslims will not be protected.

The killing was designed to tell Muslims that they should live on the mercy of the majority Hindus. No visible markers of Muslimness would be tolerated. It is not without reason that the terrorist targeted only those sporting a beard. A new condition has been attached now to let Muslims to live in this country: that they should invisibilise their religious markers. In a country where the highest offices are infused with religious symbols, one community is being terrorized into giving up its religious markers. Visibly religious Muslims are supposed to give up their beards, their Kurta-Pajama-Topi, their prayers at a public place. I am not even asking the question why? But am very sure that this very rational hatred is not going to stop even after the community gives up its visible religious markers. Next you can be asked to give up your language and finally your very name.

One is not at all surprised that Chetan Singh did this heinous act despite being a uniformed constable of the Indian Railways. Yes, the protector did turn into a killer but this is not the first time that this has happened, not will it be the last. The role of the police has been all too partisan when it comes to ‘riots’; we have seen it in the various anti-Muslim pogroms during the 1980s and more recently during the anti-CAA protests. When it comes to Muslims, there is little difference between the predominantly Hindu mob and the officers of the state. And one is not just talking about lower- level functionaries but this rot goes to the very top.

What is surprising though is the manner in which various stakeholders have responded. The railways, following the Hindu right eco-system first said that Chetan Singh was suffering from mental illness and then hurriedly withdrew the statement. It is entirely possible that the killer was suffering from mental issues; but the manner in which he targeted his victims, pacing the length of the train to identify Muslims and then kill them only tells us that there was some method to his madness. Mental health and social health are closely related. The more important question that we should be asking is this: what made this young man hate Muslims so much? What were the societal reasons due to which he absolutely believed that Muslims were the enemy? If the society all around is so sick with anti-Muslim hatred, it is only logical to argue that people like Chetan Singh are the symptoms but not the cause of that sickness.

The fact that he killed his own superior should not distract us from the fact that his primary and intentional victims were Muslims, whom he hunted down in different bogies. It is entirely possible that he killed his superior, Tikaram Meena, as the latter might have objected to his plan of killing Muslims. Therefore, we should not mistake this to be an act of a demented individual. Rather, it appears to be a premediated hate crime, very much like the killing of Kanhaiya Lal.

It is certainly not surprising to see the silence of our very educated railway minister who normally tweets very regularly. Nor is it surprising to see the radio silence of the dear leader. In fact, it is not even surprising anymore to see the silence of the opposition on the issue. When it comes to Muslims and their marginalization and wanton killing, every one hedges their bets before stating anything. After all, who wants to speak about the mleccha, an unwanted mass of people, whose very association is bound to repel hosts of others. When Muslims are being killed because of their religion, it is downright hypocritical to speak of love and brotherhood. Slogans like Muhabbat ki Dukan are utterly useless when Muslims are singled out and brutalized because of their religious identity. Not naming the evil, which in this case in Hindu majoritarianism, is tantamount to making it invisible. In this sense, the opposition is as complicit in the obliteration of Muslims as is the ruling dispensation.

But it is not just in politics alone that the reasons for such pathological hatred towards Muslims should be located. I do not believe that one person or a group of people from the top are responsible for what is happening to Muslims today. India is too complex a country; the assumption that a select group of people is making all this happen is too facile to say the least.

A large part of the blame should be borne by the Indian media, who are peddling non-stop hate against Muslims. Muslims and Islam have become the favourite topics for most of the channels where they are painted as the proverbial fifth columnists. One TV channel recently wanted to know if there was a “permanent solution” to the Muslim question. Hatred for Muslims is now mainstream on most of these channels and social media handles. Just like the media in Rwanda exhorted its audience kill the minorities, the Indian media has taken over a similar role. Some of them are not even fit to be called journalists; they are simply vile propagandists.

There is a bit of lamentation over the state of India media and most of these reflections come from seasoned journalists who were once star anchors themselves. Lest they forget, it is important to remind them that this nonsense started under their watch in the first place. Fake news, malicious videos targeting vulnerable individuals were all started when these so-called “real journalists” called the shots. During their heydays, the prime-time stories where those of ghosts and snakes! It doesn’t take much to descend from snakes to Muslims, both are dangerous and both have to dealt with. In fact, these so- called “real journalists” are the major culprit because it was under their watch that the dumbing down of television audiences started. An uneducated, non-critical, gullible people will consume whatever nonsense comes in its way, including Muslim hatred. Today, some of these old school journalists are aghast at what is happening. But let us be under no illusion that they are part of the problem.

In this never-ending season of viciousness and hatred, the Muslim is all alone. Hindu majoritarianism has dropped all pretence that as a “big brother”, it is going to protect Muslims. The very fine distinction between Hinduism and militant Hindu nationalism is very nearly effaced. Not because the distinction is not real but because, as Chetan Singh reminds us, Hindus are only going to watch as the rabid ochlocracy keeps killing us.

A regular contributor to NewAgeIslam.com, Arshad Alam is a writer and researcher on Islam and Muslims in South Asia.

Courtesy: New Age Islam

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RPF constables kills 3 Muslims, one senior, reports suggest killer picked victims from passengers https://sabrangindia.in/rpf-constables-kills-3-muslims-one-senior-reports-suggest-killer-picked-victims-from-passengers/ Tue, 01 Aug 2023 07:38:48 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=28853 Video shows uniformed constable standing near bleeding body, says “If you want to vote, if you want to live in Hindustan, then I am saying, Modi and Yogi”

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On Monday morning, July 31, shocking news surfaced, a Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable shot dead four people while travelling on the Jaipur-Mumbai Central Express. The incident took place near Palghar railway station in Maharashtra. The deceased included a senior colleague and three Muslim passengers.

By Monday evening, disturbing videos of the incident went viral on social media. Amongst the videos showing the cold blooded murders, one video showed the uniformed constable standing near a bleeding body of a man and stating the following: “If you want to vote, if you want to live in Hindustan, then I am saying, Modi and Yogi, they are the two, and your Thackeray.”

In 1925, the Hindu nationalist paramilitary organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was established by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. He emphasised the importance of nurturing Hindu culture as a means of safeguarding India. Over the past 100 years, there have been instances of violence against innocent Muslims carried out under the pretext of protecting the country and religion. Some argue that extremist right-wing ideologies and the Sangh pariwar have contributed to fostering anti-Muslim sentiments, leading to targeted violence perpetrated by their supporters.

The perpetrator of this heinous targeted crime has been identified as constable Chetan Singh, aged 34. The murder suspect hails from Hathras in Uttar Pradesh. Three of the deceased have been identified as Tika Ram Meena, RPF assistant sub-inspector; Abdul Kadarbhai Mohammed Hussain Bhanpurwala, aged 48, a resident of Nalasopara in Palghar (around 100km from Mumbai); and Asgar Abbas Sheikh, aged 48, a resident of Madhubani in Bihar.

As per the report of the Wire, the murders were carried out in different coaches of the train, and all the victims had beards, suggesting that he picked his victims amongst the passengers. According to the PTI and Hindustan Times, Singh first shot dead a senior officer, Tikaram Meena in coach B-5. He then shot and killed a passenger, Abdul Kaderbhai Bhanpurwala, a passenger in the same coach. Singh then walked through four coaches without using his weapon until he came across a passenger in the pantry car, identified as Sadar Mohammed Hussain, and killed him Singh then walked through two other coaches before shooting his third victim, Asghar Abbas Shaikh in coach S-6. All three passengers were bearded, as per the Hindustan Times report.

A video of the uniformed constable standing near the dead body of Asghar and giving a islamophobic and hate filled speech, while raising a call for voting for PM Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi, went viral on social media. “They are operating from Pakistan. Your media, this country’s media is showing the news, they are getting to know everything, these people’s masters are there. If you want to vote, if you want to live in Hindustan, then I am saying, Modi and Yogi, they are the two, and your Thackeray.”

The video can be viewed here: (Trigger Warning, disturbing content.)

As per a report of The Indian Express, a fight had allegedly broken out between ASI Meena and Singh following “an argument over communities”, though the reason behind the shooting is yet to be clear.

A 25-year-old RPF constable, who is the complainant in the case, said that Singh tried to strangulate him before going on the firing spree, a GRP official said. Singh shot dead RPF assistant sub-inspector Meena and another passenger in the B5 coach with his automatic weapon after 5am. He then shot dead another passenger in the pantry car five coaches away and went on to kill one more passenger in S6 coach, which is the eighth bogie from the B5 coach, an official said, as per the Telegraph. According to the GRP, Singh fired 12 rounds from his automatic weapon.

Notably, ASI Meena is survived by his wife, a 20-year-old son and a 22-year-old daughter. He was supposed to retire by 2025.

As per media reports, Singh was caught with his weapon while he was trying to flee after passengers pulled the chain of the train which stopped near Mira Road station (on the Mumbai suburban network) around 6am.

Notably, Singh’s family includes his wife and two children aged 6 and 8.

Reaction of the Officials

As per the Telegraph report, Government Railway Police (GRP) commissioner Ravindra Shisve reacted to the said incident by stating that “It is too early to jump to any conclusion, and at this stage, it will be premature to say anything and share any details about the probe.”

“This is the first-of-its-kind of incident on a running train. Passengers are scared. We want to assure them that police will investigate the incident in detail,” he added.

Shisve said the exact reason behind the incident was not known yet. The GRP has formed a special investigation team to probe the murders.

Pravin Chandra Sinha, principal chief security commissioner, Western Railway, told the Telegraph that “He (Chetan) was not upset. He was a bit unwell… later he lost his cool.” When he was further asked whether Chetan had any mental health issues, Sinha stated that “He had a short fuse and lost his temper, leading to the incident.”

“Chetan never showed any sign of mental imbalance”: Family of the constable

After the details of the aforementioned disturbing came out, media reports suggesting that the police are investigating if the constable has any mental ailment started making rounds. Bhagwan Singh Chaudhary, who identified himself as an uncle of the RPF constable, told the Telegraph that “Chetan never showed any sign of mental imbalance”. Bhagwan Singh also told local reporters that Chetan had got the job in 2009 in place of his father, who was also a constable in RPF and had died on duty.

Related:

Rising Menace: Mob lynchings escalate as vulnerable Muslims and minors face grave danger

Why are ISKCON employees producing anti-Muslim propaganda videos in India?

Rising Concerns as Incidents of Custodial Deaths of Dalits and Muslims Continue Unabated

Maharashtra: Suresh Chavhanke stirs controversy of “Spit Jihad” again, targets Muslim businesses

Assam CM Faces Backlash over Speech Targeting Bengali-Speaking Muslim Community

Rampant hate speeches in Solapur, anti-Muslim sentiments spread

Wielding ‘Jai Shri Ram’, vigilante violence against Muslims continues with impunity

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