NEW DELHI: A joint team of Railway Police Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) has arrested three members of a coal theft gang for placing a piece of iron rod on a railway track in an attempt to derail train in Pakur district of Jharkhand.
According to media reports, the arrested accused Najmi Sheikh, Yar Mohammad Sheikh alias Joker and Rahul Sheikh conspired to derail trains by placing a 1.57 metre long iron rod on railway track between Tilbhita and Kotlipokhar railway stations on January 10.
So far, two men – Mohammed Sheikh and Najmi Sheikh, have been arrested for placing iron blocks and rods on railway tracks in Pakur district, Jharkhand.
The goods train driver noticed the iron blocks in time, applied the brakes, and avert a major derailment. pic.twitter.com/PAh5jw8sKw
— Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) January 14, 2026
The attempt made by the accused to cause a major tragedy, however was foiled after driver of a goods train spotted the blockage on the track and succeeded in averting the danger by applying emergency brakes on time. It was learnt, that an express train was scheduled to pass from the same route.
A major train accident was averted in Jharkhand.
Najmi Sheikh and his gang placed 80 kg iron blocks on tracks in Pakur to derail the Vananchal Express.
Alert goods train driver spotted the obstacle, hit emergency brakes, and averted disaster.Najmi arrested. pic.twitter.com/430JwvvbQW
— Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) January 14, 2026
The railway officials, following the incident launched a major drive to identify and nab the accused behind the audacious act, by lodging a case under various sections of the railway act against unidentified accused. The officials eventually succeeded in arresting the trio.
According to details, the accused were all involved in a coal theft incident in Pakur on January 6, and allegedly anguished by the action taken by officials against few of their associates, after which they hatched a conspiracy to derail the passing trains from the route as part of a revenge act against the railway administration and the RPF.
