EXCLUSIVE: RPF Constable shoots last victim, claiming revenge for 2008 attack

RPF Constable Chetansinh Chaudhary

Killer RPF constable Chetan Singh Chaudhary was heard proclaiming, "Ye 2008 ka badla hai" while going on a rampage on the Jaipur-Mumbai Superfast Express, according to the charge sheet filed by the GRP in connection with the case. According to the document, exclusively accessed by mid-day, the accused had decided to gun down passengers based on their religion, using their clothing and facial hair as clues to their identity.

The accused being taken to court following the incident. File pic/PTI

Despite one of the victims' pleas to Chaudhary, in which he said, "Allah, Bhagwan ek hi hai. Mai Allah ko bhi manta hoon aur Bhagwan ko bhi manta hoon", the accused shot him twice in the chest, according to the charge sheet. The 700-page document contains 200 statements from witnesses who recounted the harrowing incident that occurred on the morning of July 31 inside the 12956 Jaipur-Mumbai Superfast Express Train. Chaudhary first shot his senior ASI Tikaram Meena in bogie no. B5 and subsequently gunned down three other passengers, in bogey no. B5, the pantry car and S6, respectively, according to witnesses.

Pivotal statement

The most pivotal statement in the GRP's records comes from RPF Constable Narendra Kumar Parmar, who was assigned to escort duty alongside Chaudhary. According to the charge sheet, Parmar serves as a key eyewitness to the shooting of two victims, which, as per the statement, was driven by religious bigotry.

The first person to be shot dead by Chetan Singh Choudhary was his senior ASI Tikaram Meena, 58, who was shot dead in the passage of compartment B-5 and B-6 of the Jaipur-Mumbai train following an argument they had over a request to leave the train over alleged ill-health was denied; next to be shot was Qadarbhai Bhanpurwala, 62, a passenger who had complained about the noise from the argument disturbing those who were sleeping. Chetan Singh demanded to know who had complained and then shot Bhanpurwala between coaches B5 and B6; Chetan Singh then traversed three coaches B4, B3 and B2 before stopping in B1 and singling out Saifuddin Sayyed, 43, whom he marched to the pantry door and shot him; Chetan Singh's last victim was Asgar Abbas Sheikh, 38, in coach B6 who was sporting a beard. Even as Sheikh begged, Chetan Singh shot him in the chest.

In his statement, Parmar recounted that he was on duty with another constable, Amay Acharya, responsible for overseeing bogies from S1 to S6 and the general compartments. Meanwhile, their senior, ASI Meena, and the accused were tasked with looking after the train from the pantry car to the engine. Parmar explained that after completing rounds in their designated area, Acharya went to hand over paperwork to ASI Meena. At approximately 4 am, Acharya contacted Parmar and informed him that Chaudhary was unwell and had declined to continue his duties. Chaudhary expressed a desire to disembark at Valsad. Acharya volunteered to take over the duty with ASI Meena, requesting Parmar to assume responsibility for his assigned bogey.

Parmar stated that he received another call from Acharya at 5.30 am while he was inside compartment no. S6. Acharya informed him that Chaudhary had fired upon ASI Meena. Parmar had then entered compartment no. B1.

‘Feared he could harm anyone'

In B1, Parmar observed that five or six passengers had gathered and everyone was in a state of panic. He stated in his testimony, "Then I saw Chaudhary entering the B1 coach, and another person was walking about five or six feet ahead of him. Chaudhary was holding a rifle behind him. The person wore a white T-shirt and black track pants with a long beard. Chetan appeared very serious, and at that moment, I feared that he might harm anyone, including myself. I tried to conceal myself beneath the seat with the other passengers."

Cops guard the B5 compartment of the Jaipur-Mumbai passenger train, the scene of the massacre. File Pic/Pradeep Dhivar

He further explained that Chaudhary advanced toward the pantry while keeping the passengers under control at rifle point. "I followed at a safe distance, deeply concerned about his intentions. As he approached bogie number B1, I had a sinking feeling that he might open fire on a passenger at any moment. Fearing that any attempt to intervene might also expose me to danger, I maintained a close watch," he stated.

After a few minutes, Chaudhary discharged his weapon, and the victim was later identified as Saifuddin Sayyed, the second passenger who was killed. "I vividly heard Sayyed's anguished cries as he experienced intense pain following the gunshot fired by Chaudhary," Parmar said in his statement. According to Parmar, the accused then moved towards bogie number S6, with his colleague closely following him.

A bullet hole on the window of the B5 compartment of the express train. File Pic/Pradeep Dhivar

Last murder

Parmar stated, "In bogie number S6, all passengers were either standing near their seats or in the passage. Chaudhary was pointing his rifle at a passenger who was wearing a grey kurta and had a long beard. Chaudhary was speaking to the passenger, and the latter was attempting to converse with him." He added, "I heard the passenger say, ‘Mai ek aam mulazim [ordinary employee] hoon. Mai Allah ko bhi manta hoon aur Bhagwan ko bhi manta hoon', indicating his lack of prejudice. It was clear that the passenger was pleading for mercy. However, Chaudhary did not heed the passenger. The last shooting left other passengers in a state of fear, causing them to scatter and hide throughout the bogie."

‘Tried to kill another passenger'

As per Parmar's statement, the passenger who was shot inside bogie number S6 was later identified as Asgar Abbas. He also said that he then tried to stop Chaudhary, but he looked at him with so much fury, that Parmar got scared that he might shoot him. According to Parmar, Chaudhary tried to kill another passenger who pulled the chain but he ultimately panicked.

Doctor's notes

After Chaudhary was apprehended by the police, he was taken to a doctor for a medical examination where declared that he had no regrets for what he had done. "History narrated by the accused himself gives the alleged history that he killed three men along with his senior this morning and does not regret his actions. Chaudhary told doctor, ‘Maine teen logo ko mara aur mujhe koi afsos nahi hai. Maine dikhaya sabko maine kya kiya [I shot three persons and don't regret it. I've showed to the world what I have done]'. The accused was altering and misleading his statements. Initially, he said that he saw the victims in his dream but later he said that this was not the case," a Cooper hospital doctor who examined the accused had written in his notes. Another crucial statement recorded by the GRP is of a GST officer who had told the police that he heard Chaudhary saying, "Ye 2008 ka badla hai". There are several such statements that reveal the accused hated the Muslim community and was mentally stable.

How the bloodshed unfolded in compartment B5

ASI Tikaram Meena, 58, was shot in between B5 and B6

ASI Meena boarded the Jaipur-Mumbai Superfast Express along with constable Narendra Parmar, Aman Acharya, and Chetan Singh. The team entered the train at 2.52 am on July 30. ASI Meena and constable Chetan Singh were assigned to the AC coach, while constable Parmar and Acharya were in the sleeper coach. About half an hour into the journey, Chetan requested permission to disembark at Valsad, claiming illness. However, ASI Meena contacted the control room and denied his request. Meena then instructed constable Acharya to escort Chetan to B4, take his rifle, and allow him to rest.

Around 5 am, Acharya observed an escalating argument between Chetan and Meena. Despite Acharya's efforts to calm Chetan down, he remained agitated and determined to exit the train. As Acharya left, he noticed Chetan removing the safety catch of his rifle, indicating a potential threat. Acharya left the area and received a call from his RPF batchmate in Nalasopara, who informed him that ASI Meena had been shot. When Acharya asked how he knew, his batchmate mentioned that an AC coach attendant had informed him about the incident.

Qadarbhai Bhanpurwala, 62, was shot between B5 and B6

Bhanupurwala was travelling from Bhanpur, Madhya Pradesh and was seated in coach B5. He had heard the argument between ASI Meena and constable Chetansinh, which had drawn the ire of Bhanpurwala who was sleeping in the same coach. He had then got up and complained to ASI Meena about the noise.

After Chetan shot Meena in the passage between B5 and B6, people sealed the coach door between B5 and B6. Chetan then returned to B5 and identified the passenger who had complained to ASI Meena. He pointed his firearm at the passenger and forced him to the passage between B5 and B4, where he shot him. The victim was later identified as Qadarbhai Bhanpurwala.

Saifuddin Sayyed, 43, was shot in the passage between the pantry and coach B1

After he had killed Bhanpurwala, Chetan Singh traversed three coach sections - B4, B3, B2 - and reached B1. Inside the coach, he approached seat number 61, aimed his weapon at Saifuddin Sayyed, and ordered him, ‘Khada hokar bahar chal' (stand up and come with me). Sayyed asked Chetan about the reason for his demand.

Chetan responded, ‘Yahaan ladies soyi hain, bahar chal' (Women are sleeping here, come out). Another fellow passenger objected to Chetan's actions, asking, ‘Ye tu kya kar raha hai?' (What are you doing?). Chetan retorted, ‘Tum chupp baitho' (You be quiet), held Sayyed hostage, and directed him towards the B1 coach. He then shot Sayyed at the pantry door. Witnesses reported that after being shot by Chetan, Sayyed cried for help, but no one dared to assist him.

Asgar Abbas Sheikh, 38, was shot inside the S6 coach

After shooting Sayyed, Chetan proceeded from the pantry to S6, where he confronted another passenger with a beard and placed his rifle against the man's chest. Sheikh attempted to reason with Chetan, saying, ‘Main ek aam mulazim hoon, Allah-bhagwan ek hi hain, main Allah ko maanta hoon aur Bhagwan ko bhi manta hoon' (I'm a common man; there is only one God, and I believe in both Allah and Bhagwan). He pleaded for mercy, but Chetan shot him twice in the chest.

In the same coach, Chetan urged other passengers to record the incident, proclaiming, ‘Ye 2008 ka badla hai' (This is revenge for the 26/11 terror attack in 2008) and insisting that they capture it on camera. Chetan then proceeded to deliver a hate speech, ‘inhone mara, Pakistan main operate hue ye, tumhari media, yehi media coverage dikha rahi hai.' He asked the passengers, ‘Pata chal raha hai, pata chal raha hai? Kaunsa pata chal raha hai?...' Agar vote dena hai, agar Hindustan main rehna hai main kehta hoon, Modi aur Yogi ye do hai aur aap ke Thackeray.

July 31
Day murders occurred