Mumbai Crime: Man greases, damages bikes parked outside Palghar station

Grease smeared on a bike outside Palghar station

Commuters at Palghar station who had found their vehicles parked in the earmarked pay and park lot damaged and smeared with grease in the past two-three days, had alleged that it could be a mischief by railway pay and park contractors to earn more revenue. But investigations have found that it was actually an act by an insane person. Nearly 20 vehicles were greased and damaged in the lot.

"Many commuters had complained about the grease put on their bikes and other two wheelers and damage to them, and levelled wild allegations. An immediate and thorough inquiry by the Western Railway found that it was the act of an insane person who used to frequent the premises," a official said.

Commuters had complained that parking outside the station was banned and that vehicles were towed away. "Railways has increased parking charges at Palghar and Boisar to 30 a day which is unaffordable to the common man. Many end up parking vehicles randomly on the railway premises," Himanshu Vartak, consultative committee member for Palghar station said.

Mahesh Patil of Dahanu Vaitarna Pravasi Sevabhavi Sanstha said after the cases of grease and damage to vehicles started increasing, they had complained to the railways, and the local Railway Protection Force had assured to take up the matter. As per one complaint by Jitendra Jadhav on March 19, his bike had grease all over the handle, seat and speedometer. A piece of wood had been inserted into the keyhole. Another commuter Vaibhav Patil said that while his bike was smeared with grease, its wiring was damaged.

‘The act of a mad man'
The Western Railway started an investigation and found it to be the act of a mad man. As per the inquiry report, "It was enquired with rickshaw drivers and affected passengers who informed that an insane person had applied grease on the seats of these vehicles and run away. He was in shabby condition wearing greased clothes. There is provision of parking for vehicles for both for passengers and for railway staff at Palghar near the parcel office." (SIC) WR chief public relations officer Sumit Thakur said they have given directives to the RPF to maintain further vigil.

TTE tests +ve, hundreds of travellers at risk
A train ticket examiner (TTE) onboard the Lucknow-Mumbai Pushpak Express tested COVID-19 positive, leading the Central Railway to submit the passenger list to the government for contact tracing. As per preliminary information, the TTE left from Lucknow on the Mumbai-bound train and got down at Bhopal on March 16. The next day, he caught the train from Bhopal to Lucknow and after reaching there, complained of fever. He and his wife both were found positive and were quarantined for 15 days. Central Railway officials said that the incident has been taken up seriously and a list of passengers onboard the train has been submitted to the Uttar Pradesh state government officials as per the protocol.

20
No. of two-wheelers greased and damaged