Separate gangs behind robberies in Chennai Mangalore Super Fast, Malabar Express?

KOZHIKODE: In a recent development, the Railway police, which is carrying out the investigation on the robberies that took place in the Chennai Mangaluru Super Fast and Malabar Express, expressed doubts that two separate gangs were involved in the crime. It must be noted that the police had earlier suspected the involvement of only one gang in the robbery case. The police are also investigating whether the robbers had received any help from those closely linked with the Railways. A Special Investigation Team(SIT) under the leadership of DySP A Sharafuddeen has been formed to investigate the case.

According to the police, the fact that the robbers were able to enter the AC coaches, where TTEs are always present, remains a mystery. The SIT has already recorded statements from Ponnimaran and Praveena, the people who lost gold worth over Rs 20 lakhs in the robbery. Police also suspect the possibility of someone following Ponnimaran from Chennai to commit the robbery.

Meanwhile, the police are yet to find the stations between which the crime had been committed. It is learnt that Railways will soon hand over the details of the passengers to the police. Police are also checking the CCTV footage obtained from various railway stations.