A powerloom worker was arrested for pelting stones at the Vande Bharat Express near Surat, which was carrying UP Governor Anandiben Patel. The accused claimed he did it 'for fun'.

  • Stone pelting incident on Vande Bharat Express carrying UP Governor Anandiben Patel.
  • Accused Pintoo Kumar, a migrant worker from Odisha, has been arrested.
  • The perpetrator confessed to the act, claiming he did it 'for fun'.
  • No injuries reported, though a windowpane in coach C-1 was damaged.

In a startling incident near Surat, Gujarat, the high-speed Vande Bharat Express was targeted by stone pelters. The train was carrying high-profile dignitaries, including the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Anandiben Patel, and the Administrator of Lakshadweep, Daman, and Diu, Praful Patel. The incident occurred on Tuesday evening near the Utran Railway Station.

Details of the Incident

According to the Railway Protection Force (RPF), the accused has been identified as 31-year-old Pintoo Kumar. A migrant from Ganjam, Odisha, Kumar works at a powerloom factory in Surat. In a chilling revelation, the accused told investigators that he threw the stones simply "for fun." Before targeting the Vande Bharat, he had also pelted stones at a Mumbai-Ahmedabad double-decker train.

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The alert was triggered when the driver of the double-decker train flagged the stone-pelting incident. RPF officials conducted an immediate search between the Kosad and Uttran stations, eventually catching Kumar red-handed. While a windowpane at seat number 7 in the C-1 coach was struck and damaged, no passengers or VIPs sustained injuries.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that such incidents, even when motivated by trivial reasons like 'fun', pose a massive security risk to high-profile travelers and the integrity of India's premium rail infrastructure. The vulnerability of high-speed corridors to localized vandalism remains a critical concern for the Ministry of Railways.

The casual nature of such crimes highlights a disturbing psychological gap that security agencies must address through both deterrence and community engagement.

The RPF has booked Pintoo Kumar under Section 153 (endangering passenger safety) and Section 147 (trespassing on railway property) of the Railway Act. Governor Anandiben Patel was returning to Ahmedabad from Daman, where she had attended the inaugural Monsoon Festival as the chief guest.

Historical Background

Stone pelting on trains has been a recurring issue in various parts of India, often leading to property damage and passenger panic. As India rolls out advanced trains like the Vande Bharat, the RPF is increasingly focusing on track-side patrolling and rapid response mechanisms to mitigate these risks.

Did You Know?: Vande Bharat Express is India's first indigenous semi-high-speed train, designed to revolutionize domestic travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Was anyone injured in the attack?
No, no injuries were reported among the passengers or the VIPs on board.

2. What charges has the accused faced?
The accused has been booked under Sections 153 and 147 of the Railway Act.