The railway accident in Mathura which killed 22 people may find its root in an alleged escape attempt by an on-board undertrial, prompting accompanying policemen to pull the chain to bring the train to halt.
The office of Senior Superintendent of Police, Mathura City, said it has received two separate complaints -- one relating to the train accident and the other being that of an accused escaping from custody of accompanying Rajasthan policemen.
"The matters are under investigation. The link between the two can only be established after inquiry is complete," a senior police official said.
It is alleged that Munna Sazid, an accused in a robbery case, was being taken from Kota in Rajasthan to the national capital in Delhi-bound Mewar Express for a hearing in the Tees Hazari court.
He was being accompanied by three police constables of Rajasthan Police -- Ashok Kumar, Veerendra and Bahadur. At the Mathura station, Sazid asked for permission to go to toilet.
As soon as the train started gaining speed, he pushed one of the constables and jumped from the train prompting the police officials to pull the chain to bring it to halt.
"All the three officials have been suspended and an inquiry has been ordered," Additional Superintendent of Police Kota, Bhupendra Sahu told PTI.
He, however, refused to comment on whether the escape attempt led to the accident. PTI
