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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Mumbai local train murder stuns commuters

Mumbai: A routine commute to home on a dark rain-soaked night in a Mumbai local turned into a nightmare when a 22-year-old commuter was allegedly stabbed to death inside a first-class compartment following a heated argument over shutting the train door, late on Tuesday. The victim, identified as Mayank Lohar, 22, worked as a salesman with a private company in Andheri and lived in Virar, nearly 60 km from Churchgate. According to Western Railway (WR) and Government Railway Police (GRP)...

Mumbai local train murder stuns commuters

Mumbai: A routine commute to home on a dark rain-soaked night in a Mumbai local turned into a nightmare when a 22-year-old commuter was allegedly stabbed to death inside a first-class compartment following a heated argument over shutting the train door, late on Tuesday. The victim, identified as Mayank Lohar, 22, worked as a salesman with a private company in Andheri and lived in Virar, nearly 60 km from Churchgate. According to Western Railway (WR) and Government Railway Police (GRP) officials, the shocking incident took place aboard the Churchgate-Nalasopara Fast Local (Train No. 90663), which left Churchgate at 10.05 pm and reached Andheri at 10.42 pm. As the train pulled out of Andheri, heavy rains started lashing the city. Lohar reportedly requested a fellow commuter standing near the doorway to shut the door, as rainwater was blowing into the compartment and inconveniencing those seated inside. The other commuter, wearing a dark shirt and trousers, allegedly refused and it started a heated verbal exchange which quickly escalated into a raging argument as the train raced through Goregaon and Malad. Then, in a horrifying burst of violence, the suspect allegedly pulled out a knife and repeatedly stabbed Lohar in the abdomen and chest as the train zoomed past Kandivali. Stunned Silence The other terrified commuters watched in stunned silence as the attack unfolded and ended within a matter of minutes claiming the young boy. Writhing in pain and bleeding profusely, Lohar collapsed onto the compartment floor as panic gripped the passengers and they scrambled away from the attacker, who reportedly continued to pace about menacingly. Eyewitnesses later said that as the train slowed while entering Borivali station’s Platform No. 6, the suspect calmly jumped off, ran up the staircase and vanished into the wet darkness. When the train halted at Borivali at 11.04 pm, the other commuters immediately alerted railway authorities. WR, GRP and medical personnel rushed to the platform within minutes with emergency equipment, medicos, porters and a stretcher. Lohar was first rushed to the station’s Emergency Medical Room, where a doctor examined him and declared him dead. His body was later shifted to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Shatabdi Hospital in Kandivali for post-mortem and other legal formalities. Special Teams The brutal killing sent shockwaves across Mumbai’s suburban rail network. In the morning, Borivali GRP Senior Police Inspector Datta Khuperkar said seven special teams were formed and nearly 400 CCTV camera feeds were scrutinised to trace the suspect. The attacker was captured on multiple surveillance cameras, cool and casual, without a hint of remorse, walking out of Borivali station after the attack. Following an intensive 14-hour manhunt, he was tracked down and arrested at Panvel in Raigad. The Borivali GRP has registered a murder case and launched a detailed investigation. As news of the shocking crime spread amid Wednesday’s torrential rains, commuters expressed outrage and disbelief that a trivial dispute over closing a train door could culminate in such a savage killing. Pall of gloom in Virar Early Wednesday morning, the Lohar family of Virar was devastated on learning about the horrifying killing of their favourite child, Mayank in a train altercation. His parents, three brothers and a sister could barely speak, with his wailing mother demanding “he must be hanged”. Consoling each other, one sister lamented how he was a quiet boy, rarely stepped out of the house without any reason and had his entire life before him that was snuffed out. Venting their ire, they asked “where was the police, why the other commuters didn’t help him” and warned that today it was their son, “next it can be anybody’s son”. The massive dragnet Barely hours after the brutal killing of Mayank Lohar, the Borivali GRP launched one of the biggest manhunts to track and apprehend the suspected killer from Panvel in Raigad district. He was later identified as one Roshan Suvarna, 30, of Mira Road, running a barcode business, informed Borivali GRP Senior Police Inspector Datta Khuperkar. “We formed seven teams with around 10 police personnel supervised by 15 officers. They scanned footage from over 400 CCTVs to trace the regular movements of the accused. The GRP stations of Borivali, Andheri, Mira Road and Nalasopara were involved in the search. We deployed tech-intel to scour his mobile and with help of our network of informers, finally caught him in Panvel,” a weary but victorious Khuperkar told ‘The Perfect Voice’. He added that after completing the legal and medical formalities, he will be produced before a Borivali Court for remand.

Karnataka government orders probe into Ranya Rao gold smuggling case, DGP’s role under scrutiny

Kannada actor Ranya Rao’s arrest sparks investigation into airport protocol breach and alleged political links


Ranya Rao

The Karnataka government has launched an investigation into the high-profile gold smuggling case involving Kannada actor Ranya Rao and the alleged misuse of airport protocols. The inquiry will focus on the role of senior IPS officer Ramachandra Rao, the stepfather of the accused, who is suspected of enabling unauthorized access at the Kempegowda International Airport.

Government Orders Investigation

On March 10, the Siddaramaiah-led government appointed Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta to examine the circumstances surrounding the case. The probe will determine if Ramachandra Rao, who serves as the Managing Director of the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Corporation, misused his position to facilitate Ranya Rao’s alleged smuggling activities.

Key Developments in the Case:

  • The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) arrested Tarun Raju, the grandson of Bengaluru’s Atria Hotel owner, in connection with the smuggling network.

  • Authorities allege that Ranya Rao used Ramachandra Rao’s influence to bypass security protocols at the airport.

  • The actor was apprehended on March 3 at Bengaluru airport while carrying 14.8 kg of gold worth ₹12.56 crore.

  • She was initially remanded to DRI custody until March 10. After three days of interrogation, she appeared before the Economic Offenses Court, where she accused officials of mental harassment.

  • During the hearing, Ranya Rao claimed that DRI officers verbally abused and pressured her into signing documents. She denied being physically tortured, stating that viral images showing her with swollen eyes were due to emotional distress.

  • A special court in Bengaluru has now placed her in judicial custody for 14 days.

  • Her bail plea is set to be heard today.

Political Repercussions

The case has taken a political turn, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing a Karnataka minister of being linked to the gold smuggling racket. BJP leader Vijayendra Yediyurappa took to social media, alleging that the Congress government is embroiled in yet another scandal.

In response, Congress countered with claims that the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board, under the previous BJP government, had facilitated land allocation for Ranya Rao in 2023 to establish a steel plant.

With the investigation ongoing, the case continues to stir controversy, drawing attention to the intersection of crime, politics, and law enforcement in Karnataka.

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