Accused may pay Rs 3.5 cr as damages for burning train

Patna: Last month, a group of students got into an altercation with railway personnel and ended up setting fire to some air-conditioned coaches of a train in Bihar. Now, the police are considering making 22 of the 26 accused cough up as much as Rs 3.5 crore in damages.

The police are likely to impose a collective fine on those accused of torching the Shramjivi Express and vandalizing the Bihta railway station on August 18, following a row between students and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel.

An official source in the police headquarters said on Tuesday that the police would realise the cost of the damage caused to the railway property from the accused in the case.

"A collective fine would be imposed on the accused in the case soon," the official said.

Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) Neelmani said, that 22 people were arrested after they were identified through video clippings provided by television channels as being part of the group that torched the train.

So far, 26 people have been identified as being part of the mob.

Deputy Inspector General (Railway) Arvind Pandey said, the police are likely to impose a collective fine on the accused under the provisions of the Bihar Collective Fine Imposition Act.

Pandey appealed to the people to come forward as witnesses against the accused in the case.

"Strict action would be taken against the accused as police have strong evidence against them," Pandey said.

On August 18, a group of students got into a heated argument with railway personnel after they were found travelling without tickets. Following this, the angry mob pelted stones and set fire to two air-conditioned coaches of the train at Bihta railway station, about 30 km from the Patna city.

The fire spread to two other air conditioned coaches as well though no one was injured in the incident.

The four coaches that were burnt were worth Rs 3.5 crore (Rs 35 million) as each AC coach costs a minimum of Rs 75 lakh, a railway official said.

Both the state government and the railway police have launched a probe into the incident. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had asked the police to take stern action against the culprits.

In view of the incident, the police have decided to set up a separate control room for the government railway police and the RPF.

Railway sources said that the Bihta incident is the second in three months where students burnt train coaches to vent their anger. In June, students had burnt four coaches of two trains at Khusrupur, 32 km from Patna.

Those accused who are unable to pay the fine will have to undergo a prison term.