Doctor losing hand during train robbery, accused arrested from Kozhikode

KOZHIKODE: The accused in the incident of a doctor falling on the railway tracks and losing his hand while trying to prevent a theft in Mumbai, has been arrested. The Kurla police arrested the 40-year-old identified as Saif Chaudhary from Kozhikode. He was in police custody for trying to snatch a passenger's bag from the train on August 8. Following an investigation, the Kurla police found that Saif is the accused in the incident that happened in Mumbai.

Ayurvedic doctor couple Yogesh Deshmukh and Deepali were travelling on the Nanded Express to their village on June 4. As the family was dozing, Saif tried to snatch Deepali’s hand bag. Yogesh woke up hearing her screams and tried to catch him but he leapt off the moving train. The couple also fell on to the tracks with him and the doctor’s left arm was crushed under the wheels. Deepali, who crossed the tracks with her injured husband and reached the road, informed the police. Yogesh was then taken to a private hospital.

The couple's nine-year-old daughter, who was with them on the train, was dropped off by the railway police at Kalyan station and taken to the hospital safely. Meanwhile, the Mumbai Railway Police came to know that a similar theft had taken place in Kozhikode last month and the accused had been arrested. Subsequent investigations confirmed that the accused was the same person.

Saif Chaudhary, who was illegally selling mobile headphones and other items on trains, currently has 30 theft cases against him. Police said that he targets women travelling on long-distance trains for theft.