Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh: Police have arrested an accused named Sabir in the detonator blast case that took place on September 18 in Burhanpur, MP. Sabir is a railway employee. Investigation has revealed that he had planted 10 detonators on the railway track. Investigation is on to find out the motive behind this. RPF presented the accused in Khandwa Civil Court. He has been sent on police remand till September 25. Another employee has also been questioned and given a notice. Was his intention to blow up the Army Special Train? NIA is investigating all this. According to railway sources, 10 detonators were planted at a distance of about one to one and a half feet between Sagphata and Dongargaon on the Delhi-Mumbai railway track. The train of army personnel was going to Thiruvananthapuram via Khandwa. It also had army officers, employees, and weapons. The Railway Ministry is very serious about the incident of detonators.

The accused Sabir is a railway employee. Investigation is on whether this is his mischief or a big conspiracy was hatched behind it. NIA, ATS, RPF, and the Railway Ministry are investigating this case.

The incident took place at Sagphata in the Nepanagar assembly constituency of Burhanpur. On September 18, as soon as the Army Special train going from Jammu and Kashmir to Karnataka passed the track, an explosion took place. The loco pilot immediately stopped the train and informed the station master. Thus a major train accident was averted.

As soon as the incident came to light, the railway and local police along with other agencies including ATS and NIA started investigating the case. Since this entire matter is related to the army, complete secrecy is being maintained in the investigation of the case. The Chief Public Relations Officer of Central Railway has also made a big revelation in the investigation of this case. He said that the detonators found on the railway track are a regular process of the railways.

Central Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Dr. Swapnil Neela said- The detonators that have been recovered are used by the railways itself. However, there was no justification for placing the detonators at the place where they were placed. Detonators make a loud noise. They are often used in fog and in such situations when the train has to be stopped in an emergency before a fixed time. In such a situation, three detonators are placed on three stages about 1200 meters before the place where the train has to be stopped. These detonators are available to various railway employees, including station masters, loco pilot, key-man, track safety officer and others. They do not cause any damage to the track or the train and explode with a loud noise as soon as the engine passes.

Sabir Ali, who placed the detonator on the track, is a mate in the railways. This is a higher post than a gangman. His job is to patrol the railway track. An FIR has also been filed against Sabir for stealing the detonators. Sabir Ali was taken into custody by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) on the same day the detonators exploded on the track.

Accused Sabir Ali is changing his statements repeatedly. During interrogation, he first said that he was not on duty on the day of the incident and was drunk. After this, he said that he had planted the detonators on the track to take revenge on the in-charge. Let us tell you that only 2 or 3 government departments have detonators. The railways had not officially given the detonators to the accused, he had stolen them

Railways regularly use these detonators. These are also called crackers. They make a loud noise when they explode. Detonators are used to indicate any obstruction, fog or mist ahead on the railway track.

The incident of placing detonators on the railway track is of 18 September, but this information came to light on 22 September. Some detonators were placed on the track near Sagphata railway station between Nepanagar and Khandwa in Burhanpur. This matter gained momentum when it was known that a train carrying army personnel was about to pass from here. Some detonators exploded even before the train reached. Immediately after this, railway officials became alert and the train was stopped at Sagphata railway station.

The accused Sabir Ali lives in Gulmohar Colony of Khandwa. He is suspected to be associated with SIMI terrorist organization. Investigation is being done from this angle as well. RPF has also sought the criminal record of the accused from the local police.

Article written by and Editorial credit: State Bureau Chief Himanshu Nauriyal.