Mumbai : Chetan Singh, the RPF escort held for gunning down four people on the Jaipur-Mumbai Superfast Express, had complained to his team leader of suffering from Hydrocele, a type of swelling in the scrotum, which was impacting his ability to walk on the train, investigations in the case have shown. Singh was insisting on getting off the train at Valsad.
His team leader, assistant sub-inspector Tikaram Meena, connected him over the phone with superiors who advised him to rest on the train itself, which he was not keen on.
Meena was not convinced that Singh was unwell and told superiors that the constable was making excuses.
Meena was among the four victims of the shooting incident on Monday between Vaitarna and Mira Road stations. The other three were passengers-- Kadar Bhanpurwala, Syed Saifuddin and Asghar Abbas Shaikh.
Investigators told TOI that Singh was repeatedly saying that he wanted to get off the train at Valsad. "As per the train's schedule, there was no halt at Valsad. It's only during medical emergencies that a train would halt at a station where it's not supposed to," said an officer.
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If it is true that the regular health check-ups that RPF constables undergo do not include mental health tests, it is about time that they are introduced, particularly since they are authorised to carry firearms.
When Singh complained of uneasiness, another constable from the escort team, Amey Acharya, touched him on the forehead to check for fever. But his body temperature appeared normal. Suggesting that he should rest on the train, Meena added that the journey would conclude in two hours. But Singh refused to listen. Meena then connected him to two superiors over separate phone calls. Both of them recommended that Singh rest on the train. "The superiors were initially concerned whether Singh was having chest pain, indicating a heart attack. But he explained that he was suffering from pain due to Hydrocele. The superior then assured him that medical arrangements would be made for him at Borivali station and he shouldn't get off anywhere else during the journey as it could worsen his condition. The superior also suggested that Singh lie down on a berth and put his feet up to get relief from the pain.
"Meena then sent Singh to coach no B4 to rest after instructing Acharya to take away his rifle. Singh rested for not more than 15 minutes. He started to ask Acharya to return his rifle and when the latter refused, Singh tried to throttle him," an investigator said. He snatched Acharya's rifle and left, prompting Acharya to seek him out sometime later to exchange the rifles. "He looked visibly angry and even removed the safety catch on his rifle," Acharya told investigators in his statement later.
Sources said the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad has been in touch with the GRP after a video clip went viral, featuring a gun-toting Singh speaking to train passengers about 'Pakistan' and domestic politics. The video clip will be analysed forensically.
Meanwhile the Rajasthan Minorities Commission on Wednesday sent a letter to chief minister Ashok Gehlot demanding a compensation package of Rs 50 lakh and jobs for the children of two of the victims-- Meena and Shaikh-- both natives of the state.