By: Odeh Favour Adiya
A Nigerian national has died after being detained and questioned by Railway Protection Force officials at Surat Railway Station in India, prompting the Government Railway Police to launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
The deceased, whose identity is yet to be disclosed, was traveling from Mumbai to Delhi on board the Golden Temple Express when he was intercepted at Surat following an alleged altercation with fellow passengers, according to a report by The Indian Express on Thursday.
Police authorities disclosed that the incident began on August 17 after a passenger called the railway helpline number, 139, to report that the Nigerian national and another passenger were allegedly engaged in a physical fight near one of the train’s doors.
Police sources stated that during the scuffle, the Nigerian allegedly sprayed a fire extinguisher at co-passengers while the train was in motion between Vapi and Surat stations.
He was subsequently detained upon arrival at Surat and taken to the RPF office for questioning, where he reportedly collapsed.
He was rushed to the Surat Municipal Institute of Medical Education and Research Hospital, “where doctors declared him dead on arrival”.
The Surat GRP has since registered a case of “accidental death”, while the post-mortem examination conducted on August 18 was awaiting its official report as of Wednesday evening, according to the report.
Western Railway Superintendent of Police, Abhay Soni, noted that preliminary findings indicated the deceased was a Nigerian national who resided in Vasai, Mumbai.
“After primary investigations, it is believed that the deceased was a Nigerian national. When Surat RPF caught him, he didn’t have any of his identity cards with him,” Soni told The Indian Express.
Soni further disclosed that the deceased had previously been arrested twice by security agents in Mumbai over drug-related offenses.
“He lived in Vasai (Mumbai) and was arrested twice by Malwani and Malad police in Mumbai for drug (cocaine) trafficking cases in 2018,” he said.
The police officer explained that the true purpose of the Nigerian’s trip to Delhi remains under active investigation, confirming that he had originally boarded the train from Borivali in Mumbai.
Soni affirmed that the GRP had commenced a formal inquiry into the death, with statements expected from officers involved in the detention as well as those present at the RPF office.
“We have started an inquiry.
Statements from the police officials who caught him and those present at the police station will be taken. We are also waiting for the autopsy report,” he said.
The investigation into the death is being conducted by Deputy Superintendent of Police D H Gaur.
