THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In the wake of a shocking robbery in which gold worth over Rs 20 lakhs was looted from two trains, the Kerala police has blamed Railway authorities and officials for facilitating the criminals. According to the police, railway authorities have been reluctant to check the IDs of those general ticket passengers who obtain AC compartment tickets by paying extra money. Police added that the railway officials had also opposed police patrolling in AC coaches.

When quizzed about the robbery in Chennai-Mangalore Superfast and Malabar Express, State Police Chief Loknath Behera told Kerala Kaumudi that police are suspecting two women passengers who had obtained AC coach tickets after exchanging their general compartment tickets by paying extra money. According to the police chief, though the railways might benefit through such exchanging of tickets, it can also pave the way for severe security issues. He added that the police have not able to make breakthroughs in similar cases as the railway officials have not collected the IDs of those who exchange their general compartment tickets with their general tickets.