Surat: A startling twist has unfolded in the investigation into a reported sabotage attempt on railway tracks near Surat. Three railway employees were arrested on Monday for allegedly tampering with the railway track while feigning an alert about the situation.
The arrested individuals, identified as Subhash Poddar (39), Manish Mistry (28), and Shubham Jaiswal (26), were all trackmen in the maintenance department. They allegedly alerted officials about “miscreants” tampering with the tracks during an inspection between Kosamba and Kim stations at approximately 5:30 AM on Saturday.
According to Superintendent of Police Homesh Joysar, the trio claimed to have observed the removal of elastic clips and fishplates from the tracks, ostensibly to derail an oncoming train. However, railway officials found discrepancies in their story. A train had passed through the area just before the alleged tampering, and the timeline suggested that it was impossible for anyone to have tampered with the tracks in such a brief window of time.
Upon further investigation, police reviewed the mobile phones of the three men and discovered videos showing the tampered tracks taken at various times between 2:56 AM and 4:57 AM—well before their alert call. Mistry had also deleted photos related to the tampering, raising further suspicions.
During interrogation, the employees confessed that they had orchestrated the act to ensure they would be recognised and rewarded, thus allowing them to continue working night shifts. Poddar, who reportedly conceived the idea as his monsoon night duty was nearing its end, sought to secure more nights off, allowing them to spend daytime hours with their families.
This incident highlights a concerning breach of trust and safety within the railway system, as authorities continue to investigate the motives behind this unusual and dangerous plot.