1 week ago
Stones Hit Vande Bharat Carrying UP Governor Near Surat
Someone threw stones at a fast Vande Bharat train near Surat.
Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel was traveling on the train.
She was reportedly in a different coach from the one affected.
The train was traveling from Mumbai toward Ahmedabad.
Reports place the incident on Tuesday or Wednesday, creating a date discrepancy.
A powerloom worker named Pintoo Kumar was arrested near the railway line.
An RPF official said he threw the stones for fun.
Police are questioning him and plan to present him before a magistrate.
Stones were thrown at Mumbai–Ahmedabad Vande Bharat Express 22961 near Surat.
Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel was aboard, reportedly in a different coach.
The incident occurred between Utran and Kosad after the train left Utran.
The Railway Protection Force arrested Surat resident Pintoo Kumar, a powerloom worker from Odisha’s Ganjam.
An RPF official said Kumar threw the stones “for fun”; the motive remains under investigation.
- Who
- The Mumbai–Ahmedabad Vande Bharat Express, carrying Anandiben Patel and other passengers, was targeted; authorities arrested Pintoo Kumar.
- What
- Stones were pelted at train 22961, and one suspect was arrested.
- Where
- Between Utran and Kosad near Surat, Gujarat; one report says the governor had boarded at Vapi.
- When
- The reports identify the incident as occurring on Tuesday or Wednesday; it happened shortly after the train left Utran.
- Why
- An RPF official said Kumar did it “for fun,” while the investigation was still underway.
Security-lapse account
RPF explanation
Nature of the incident
Security-lapse account
One report described the stone-pelting as a major security lapse involving a train carrying a governor.
RPF explanation
The RPF account focused on the suspect’s alleged individual act and said he threw the stones for fun.
How the suspect was caught
Security-lapse account
The incident prompted railway and police action after officials were alerted.
RPF explanation
An RPF official said a Mumbai–Ahmedabad double-decker train driver first flagged stone-throwing nearby, helping personnel catch Kumar red-handed during a second attack.
Key facts
- Train
- Mumbai–Ahmedabad Vande Bharat Express, train 22961
- Incident
- Stone-pelting near Utran and Kosad
- Passenger
- Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel
- Other passengers
- Lakshadweep and Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli Administrator Praful Patel, Anandiben Patel’s daughter Anar, and actor Anang Desai were also reported aboard
- Suspect
- Pintoo Kumar, a powerloom worker who migrated to Surat from Ganjam, Odisha
- Police action
- The Railway Protection Force arrested Kumar after he was reportedly caught near the railway line
- Investigation
- Authorities were interrogating the suspect and planned to produce him before a magistrate
Quotes
Anubhav Saxena
Public relations officer for the Vadodara Division of Western Railway
“Our train, the Vande Bharat Express (22961), was travelling from Mumbai to Ahmedabad today. Shortly after departing from Utran, an incident of stone-pelting between Utran and Kosad came to our attention. We immediately informed the GRP SP and dispatched our Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel to the scene.”
m.rediff.com
“We have arrested a suspect, and interrogation is currently underway. The accused is reported to be a resident of Surat. His name is Pintu Kumar. The investigation is in progress, and he will be produced before a magistrate once it concludes.”
m.rediff.com









