Railway employee places 10 detonators on tracks: Was Sabir Ali trying to blow up Army Special Train?

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) arrested a Railway employee on Tuesday for placing 10 detonators on a railway track in Madhya Pradesh, with the intent to cause mass casualties.

According to ANI, the accused identified as Sabir Ali, Railway employee, was detained on Monday for allegedly stealing and setting off detonators, and was arrested following interrogation. Reportedly, Sabir is a mate, who patrols tracks.

As per the Central Railway, Sabir was arrested for keeping railway detonators in his possession illegally and in the absence of any emergency, fitting them on the Up railway track. 

Central Railway revealed that Sabir has been arrested for questioning under the Railways Property Unlawful Possession Act. 

Meanwhile, the RPF is conducting a detailed investigation into the matter from all angles. 

Notably, ten detonators—termed "harmless" by the Indian Railways—went off on a track near Burhanpur of the Bhusawal division last week. The explosion prompted the authorities to halt a military special train for two minutes.

Terming the detonators as "harmless", the Central Railway said these detonators are called crackers. When they explode, they make a loud sound, which is a signal for an obstruction, fog or mist ahead. The Railways regularly used these detonators.

On the other hand, netizens suspect that the accused was trying to blow up the Army special train. The Indian Railways is yet to make any statement over the allegations.

While many raised concerns about the rising incidents of attempts to derail trains across the country, demand to dismiss the accused from job has also intensified.