Gomtinagar police, in collaboration with the east zone surveillance and crime team, arrested two individuals in connection with a suspected sabotage attempt involving the Gorakhpur-Humsafar Express. The train hit a metal gate placed on the tracks near the Dilkusha-Malhaur down line on the night of June 22, but fortunately did not derail.
The accused — Janardan (19) and Jang Bahadur Pandey (24) — were apprehended near the Vineet Khand Sabzi Mandi bridge based on a tip-off. A yellow iron ladder, allegedly stolen from the Shaheed Path area, was recovered from them. According to DCP East Shashank Singh, the duo, along with an absconding accomplice, Raj Babu, also stole a rusted iron gate, which was later abandoned on the tracks.
Police said the three intended to sell the metal as scrap. While dragging the gate across the railway line, they heard a train approaching and fled, leaving the object behind. The Gorakhpur-Humsafar Express hit the gate but continued without incident.
SHO Brijesh Chandra Tiwari confirmed that the suspects confessed to planning to sell the stolen material and split the proceeds. They escaped upon seeing railway officials and police at the scene.
The accused have been charged under Sections 151 and 153 of the Railway Act, and Sections 303(2), 317(2), and 324(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) were later added.
The search for Raj Babu, the third accused, is ongoing.
