Mumbai: A dispute over keeping train doors open during heavy rain turned deadly in Mumbai when a 22-year-old passenger was allegedly stabbed to death by a fellow commuter aboard a suburban local train. The incident marks the second fatal stabbing reported on Mumbai’s local rail network this year.
Police have identified the accused as Sachin Ramesh Suvarna (30), who was arrested within hours of the crime after investigators reviewed footage from nearly 400 CCTV cameras and launched an extensive search operation.
According to officials, the incident took place on Tuesday night inside a first-class compartment of a Churchgate–Nallasopara fast local train between Andheri and Borivali stations. The victim, Mayank Lohar, became involved in an argument with Suvarna after the train reached Andheri station around 10:42 pm.
Investigators said the dispute erupted when one passenger wanted the compartment doors to remain open, while the other objected due to the rain. During the argument, Suvarna, who works at the Sahar Cargo Complex near Mumbai Airport, allegedly pulled out a sharp weapon and attacked Lohar, stabbing him in the chest and abdomen.
Lohar collapsed inside the compartment with serious injuries. Meanwhile, Suvarna allegedly jumped off the train before it came to a complete halt at Borivali station and fled the scene.
Railway officials, along with personnel from the Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF), rushed the injured passenger to a nearby medical facility before he was shifted to a civic-run hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Police said that after the incident, Suvarna returned home and informed his father that he had been involved in an altercation on a local train. Around midnight, fearing arrest, he left his residence and allegedly planned to flee Mumbai. He was later tracked down and taken into custody.
The incident has once again raised concerns over passenger safety on Mumbai’s suburban railway network. Earlier this year, in February, 32-year-old lecturer Alok Singh was allegedly stabbed during an argument while attempting to disembark from a train at Malad station. Police had arrested accused Omkar Shinde in that case.
Authorities have launched further investigations into the latest incident.
