Mumbai train firing: Forced burqa-clad lady to chant ‘Jai mata di’

RPF Constable Chetan Singh Chaudhary

The 1,200-page charge sheet filed by the Government Railway Police (GRP) in connection with the brutal killings on the Jaipur-Mumbai Superfast Express reveals that a 36-year-old burqa-clad woman was forced to chant ‘Jai Mata Di' at gunpoint by the accused, RPF Constable Chetan Singh, among other chilling accounts. Another passenger described an incident where Chetan Singh pointed his rifle at his chest.

Another woman passenger shared a distressing encounter with Singh when she sought information about the unfolding situation. His gaze instilled a profound fear in her as if she believed he might also resort to violence. In her police testimony, the 36-year-old woman said that she, along with her two children, boarded the express train at Ratlam railway station. This is how she described the chilling encounter: "At approximately 5.30 am, I woke up and, while putting on my shoes to go to the washroom, I noticed a policeman [Singh] approaching my coach. He stood before me, pointing his rifle at my face, all while I was in a burqa."

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

The woman went on to tell the police that the constable menacingly told her, "Tum agar is desh main rehna chahte ho to Jai Mata Di bol. Nahi toh shoot kar dunga." She continued, "I was filled with fear and complied. He glared at me with intense anger and demanded that I say it louder. Summoning my courage, I placed my hand on the muzzle of his gun and inquired, ‘Tum kaun hai? (who are you?)'. In response, he threatened me again, stating, ‘Gun chhod de gun nahi pakadne ka, nahi to shoot kar dunga (let go of the gun, don't try to grab it, or I will shoot)'. I reluctantly removed my hand from the muzzle, and he retreated, warning me, ‘Mai fir se aata hoon (I'll be back)'."

Another account

Another passenger, aged 50, who is now a witness, informed the police that there was a sense of complete panic inside the train. He recounted an incident where he heard a woman running toward his coach, urgently exclaiming, "Yaha koi dusra policewala hai? Mar dala mar dala (Is there another police officer here? He's killing people)." The passenger then asked the woman, "Kisko mara? Mar gaya kya? (Whom did he kill? Is someone dead?)." She replied, "Goli marega toh marega na? (If he shoots, people will die)."

The B5 compartment of the Jaipur-Mumbai Superfast Express, on which the accused took four lives. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar

In his statement, he went on to say, "I became frightened and returned to my seat, where I was sitting with my wife. The RPF constable entered my coach, standing in front of me while aiming his rifle at us. I screamed, ‘Arre kya kar raha hai? Arre kya kar raha hai? (What are you doing? What are you doing?)', and as I raised my voice, other passengers did the same. The constable appeared alarmed and took a step back. I promptly pulled the emergency chain, and the constable disembarked."

Hostile gaze

As stated in the charge sheet, a 27-year-old woman passenger had a frightening encounter with the accused when she inquired about the ongoing situation. The constable responded with a hostile glare that seemed to suggest he might harm her. The woman, filled with apprehension, promptly returned to her seat. Similarly, another woman who needed to use the restroom requested that the accused step aside to allow her passage. However, he fixed a menacing stare upon her, causing her to return to her seat.

July 31
Day murders occurred