The collision of a train with an LPG gas cylinder placed on the tracks near a crossing in Kanpur, and the subsequent recovery of a cache of suspicious items including a gunpowder-like substance and petrol-filled bottles from the tracks, sent authorities into a tizzy late on Sunday evening.
After the recovery, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Intelligence Bureau (IB), and Special Task Force (STF) launched an investigation to determine whether the incident was sabotage to derail a train or simply a prank by an influencer attempting to create viral content.
Officials with the Railways and investigating agencies pointed to the similarities between Sunday’s incident and that of August 17 in Kanpur in which 20 coaches of Sabarmati Express derailed between Kanpur and Bhimsen stations in UP after its engine struck an object on the tracks. No casualties or injuries were reported.
“On receiving information about the incident, senior officials rushed to the site and launched an investigation into the matter,” said Rajesh Kumar Singh, DCP West Zone, Kanpur Commissionerate. Singh said apart from other investigating agencies, the forensics team was called in and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) is also probing the matter.
IG ATS Nilabja Chaudhary said it was possibly an act of sabotage as an attempt was made to derail the train.
The incident occurred on Sunday when the Kalindi Express (14117), heading from Prayagraj to Bhiwani, struck a gas cylinder placed on the railway track along the Anwarganj-Kasganj route in Kanpur’s Shivrajpur area. According to police, the train hit the cylinder at around 8.30pm near the Sarjapur police station limits, just after crossing Munderi. “The loco pilot immediately stopped the train and raised an alarm,” said a police official.
Authorities, including police and railway officials, rushed to the scene and discovered the remains of the cylinder along with other suspicious objects, including a petrol-filled bottle and a matchbox.
Harish Chander, Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), said the loco pilot noticed the LPG cylinder on the tracks and applied the emergency brakes, but the train could not stop in time because of its speed, resulting in collision with the cylinder. “The train was at the incident site for about 20 minutes and was later halted again at Bilhaur station for further investigation,” the ACP added.
Sources said the police are also investigating the angle of a possible prank or experimental video.
On August 2, UP Police had arrested a YouTuber for attempting to obstruct trains by keeping different objects on the track. The YouTuber, identified as Gulzar Sheikh, would make ‘experimental’ videos by placing bricks, gravel, cylinders and even a bicycle on the railway track. He would then post the video on social media to boost the viewership of his videos.
Taking cognisance of the videos, the police arrested Sheikh from the Nawabganj area of Ganga Nagar in Prayagraj and handed him over to the Railway Police for further legal action.
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