Stone-throwing targets E-1 executive coach of Shatabdi Express; RPF and GRP launch search, two arrests reported

A window pane in the E-1 executive coach of the Shatabdi Express was shattered on Thursday evening after stones were reportedly hurled at the train while it passed between Makkhanpur and Firozabad, officials said. The coach was carrying Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, who was unhurt, authorities added.

Initial details
According to railway and police officials, the incident occurred in the late evening as the Kanpur–New Delhi Shatabdi was en route to Tundla Junction. An object — later identified as a stone — struck the E-1 coach, breaking a window pane. Bhagwat, seated in that coach, was reportedly safe and continued his journey.

Security response
Following the report, joint teams of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) rushed to the Makkhanpur–Firozabad section and increased deployment along the route. Senior officers reached Tundla Junction, where the train arrived at Platform No. 1 at 7:34 pm and departed after inspection at 7:41 pm, officials said.

“Initial reports indicate the coach window was damaged by a stone,” a railway official said on condition of anonymity. “The passenger in that coach is safe. A search operation is underway in the nearby areas.”

Arrests and probe
Uttar Pradesh police said two men were arrested in connection with the stone-pelting. Local law enforcement and railway police are conducting searches in villages around the stretch where the attack took place to trace any additional suspects and to recover the weapon used.

Officials did not immediately release the identities of those detained. Officers said they were examining CCTV footage from stations and nearby level crossings and collecting statements from onboard staff and fellow passengers.

Sequence earlier in the day
Bhagwat had attended a blessing ceremony in Kanpur earlier on Thursday at around 2:30 pm for Vasundhara, the elder daughter of former BJP MP Satyadev Pachauri’s family member Neetu Singh, who is set to be married on June 21. The event drew several local leaders and required heightened security arrangements, police said.

After the function, Bhagwat boarded the Shatabdi Express to return to New Delhi. The stone reportedly struck the coach during that journey, while the train ran through the Makkhanpur–Firozabad stretch.

Ground-level cues
Passengers on board told reporters they heard a loud thud and saw a crack in the window pane before railway staff sealed the coach for inspection. Some travellers expressed unease over the attack but praised the quick response by RPF and GRP personnel once the incident was reported.

Local residents and commuters near the rail section said authorities intensified patrolling after the incident and that security vans were seen combing the area during the night.

Impact and public relevance
Stone-pelting on running trains raises concerns about passenger safety and the vulnerability of dignitaries travelling by scheduled services. Railway officials said they will review footage and strengthen cover in vulnerable stretches, particularly where trains slow down or pass close to habitations.

A senior police officer in Firozabad said such acts are treated as serious offences, and the team will seek to determine whether the incident was targeted or a random attack. “We are probing motive and will follow all leads,” the officer said.

Next steps
Investigating agencies said they will quiz the arrested men, examine local CCTV and level-crossing records, and check mobile phone tower pings to reconstruct movement in the area. Railway authorities are expected to issue an advisory for increased patrolling on the Kanpur–Delhi route until further notice.

The RPF and GRP have appealed to commuters and locals to share any information or footage that could aid the probe. Officials cautioned against speculation until the investigation establishes motive and culpability.

A violent clash between two groups in Madhya Pradesh’s Rewa city triggered panic late Wednesday night after stone pelting and physical assault broke out in the Machhariya Gate area under City Kotwali police station limits. The incident escalated rapidly following a minor argument, with more than a dozen people allegedly involved in the confrontation. During the chaos, a youth attempting to flee the spot on a scooter lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a wall, suffering serious head injuries.

According to local residents and eyewitnesses, the incident took place in the Upperhati locality near Machhariya Gate, where tensions flared between two groups allegedly under the influence of alcohol. Sources said a verbal altercation between a few individuals quickly turned aggressive, leading to open fighting on the road.

As the dispute intensified, members of both groups allegedly began attacking each other with punches and kicks before stone pelting started in the area. Residents said the confrontation continued for a long time, creating fear and confusion among people living nearby. Several locals reportedly rushed indoors while others fled the area to avoid getting caught in the violence.

Eyewitnesses claimed that more than a dozen individuals gathered on the road during the incident and continued the clash despite repeated attempts by bystanders to calm the situation. The violence reportedly caused chaos across the locality, with stones scattered on the street and loud shouting heard throughout the neighbourhood.

During the disturbance, a young man allegedly tried to escape the spot on a scooter. However, due to high speed and panic during the incident, he reportedly lost control of the vehicle and rammed into a wall nearby. The impact left him critically injured, particularly on the head.

Local residents immediately gathered near the injured youth and arranged to shift him to Sanjay Gandhi Hospital for emergency treatment. According to hospital sources, the youth sustained severe head injuries and his condition was said to be serious at the time of admission. His identity had not been officially confirmed till late night.

The incident has sparked anger among residents over the alleged delay in police response. People living in the locality claimed that repeated calls were made to police after the clash started, but officers reportedly reached the spot nearly two hours later. Locals alleged that timely intervention could have prevented the violence from escalating and might have reduced the severity of the injuries suffered by the youth.

Residents also accused authorities of failing to maintain regular police patrolling in the area. According to locals, incidents involving antisocial elements and late-night disturbances have increased in recent months, creating fear among families and shopkeepers living in the neighbourhood.

Several residents said they no longer feel safe during late evening hours because groups of youths frequently gather in the locality. People demanded stricter police monitoring and immediate action against those involved in the violence.

Police officials later reached the area and brought the situation under control. Officers inspected the spot and began collecting information from witnesses and residents. Authorities are also trying to identify all individuals involved in the clash and determine what exactly triggered the confrontation.

City Kotwali police station in-charge Nisha Mishra confirmed that police have taken cognisance of the incident and started an investigation. Officials said CCTV footage from nearby areas and statements from local residents are being examined as part of the probe.

Police sources indicated that the identities of several people involved in the fight are yet to be verified. Authorities are also investigating whether the clash was linked to any previous rivalry or if it erupted suddenly during alcohol consumption.

The violent incident in Rewa has once again raised concerns over law and order and the increasing presence of antisocial activities in residential areas. Local residents said stronger surveillance and regular police patrols are necessary to prevent such incidents from recurring.

------------

A forest encroachment removal drive in Madhya Pradesh’s Burhanpur district turned violent on Sunday after a joint team of forest officials, police and district administration personnel came under stone pelting in Nepanagar range. Four people, including forest staff and a JCB operator, were injured during the operation in Jhanjhar village, officials said.

The incident took place around 11 am when authorities launched a large-scale action to remove alleged external encroachers from forest land in the Nepa range under Burhanpur forest division. The operation was part of an ongoing crackdown on illegal occupation and deforestation in the region.

Four Injured On Spot

Officials said the injured included a JCB operator identified as Kamal Bansal, a resident of Sidhi, who was rushed to the district hospital after sustaining head injuries. According to preliminary reports, stones were hurled at the earthmover during the demolition drive, causing the driver to lose control and the machine to overturn.

Bansal told officials that a large group, estimated at over 150 people, attacked the enforcement team during the operation. He said the stone pelting caused panic, forcing personnel to retreat briefly to avoid further injuries.

Massive Force Deployed

The forest department had deployed more than 500 officials and staff for the anti-encroachment operation. The team included personnel from Burhanpur, Khandwa, Khargone and Barwah forest divisions, supported by local police and district administration staff.

Heavy machinery, including JCBs, was moved into the area early on Sunday as part of the coordinated action. The deployment had been planned in advance, with personnel assembled at Burhanpur police lines on Saturday evening before being sent to the field.

Action Planned Earlier

According to officials, the forest encroachment removal drive had been under preparation for several weeks. Authorities had been planning action against alleged outside encroachers occupying protected forest land, but the date of execution had not been finalised until now.

Divisional Forest Officer Vidyabhushan Singh said the operation was aimed at identifying and removing unauthorised occupants from forest land in the Nepanagar range. According to officials, eligible forest rights claimants would not face eviction, but action would continue against those lacking valid documentation.

Years Of Encroachment

Forest officials said Nepanagar and Navra ranges have witnessed large-scale encroachment and forest cutting over the past several years. According to officials, large tracts of forest land were cleared by alleged encroachers, damaging plantation zones created after earlier restoration efforts.

Sources indicated the forest department had carried out plantation work in the area after earlier encroachment drives, but officials feared renewed occupation could undo those efforts. Saplings planted in recent years are still in the growth phase and require long-term protection.

Earlier Crackdown Recalled

Officials said this is not the first major enforcement action in the area. Around two-and-a-half years ago, the district administration, police and forest department had jointly removed more than 1,000 temporary structures from forest land in Navra range during a 17-day anti-encroachment drive.

Following that operation, notices were issued asking alleged encroachers to vacate forest land. However, officials said several occupants continued to remain in the area despite repeated warnings and legal notices.

More Action Likely

Authorities said the current operation would continue despite Sunday’s violence. According to officials, those with valid claims under applicable forest rights provisions would be protected, while action would proceed against ineligible occupants claiming possession without documentary proof.

The latest forest encroachment action in Burhanpur is likely to remain under close administrative watch as officials push ahead with eviction, restoration and enforcement measures.