Man escapes with minister’s purse and cellphones

The incident took place around 4.30 am when Sahis — travelling in Adra-Chakradharpur passenger train — was preparing to get down at the Howrah station. She had kept her purse and two mobile phones on the seat. The thief started running parallel to the train, posing as a coolie and managed to filch the bag containing Rs 4,000, keys of her residence and the mobiles.

Other officials and security guards, who were travelling in the adjacent cabin, got down from the railway station after being alerted by Sahis, but were unable to locate the thief.

According to an eyewitness, Sahis immediately rushed to the office of Government Railway Police (Howrah) and met OC Taj Mohammad.

GRP officials were then alerted and asked to identify the criminal as soon as possible. A large number of people, including some vendors, were questioned and on the basis of their statement, the cops managed to arrest one person and seized Rs 2,900 from his possession. “We have registered a case against a gang. One of them is in our custody and we are looking for the rest,” said Mohammed.