MillenniumPost
Delhi

Principal on her way to receive President’s Medal robbed in train

The victim, identified as Rekha Saxena (56), is the principal of a Kendriya Vidyalaya in Gwalior city. Her brother, Surender Saxena, an advocate by profession, was accompanying her in an AC compartment of Samata Express, in which the incident took place on Wednesday, said DCP (Railways) <g data-gr-id="52">Dumbere</g> Milind Mahadeo.

“Three men, who claimed to be travelling from Nagpur for <g data-gr-id="62">business</g> purpose were sitting opposite the duo,” he said.  The trio befriended the principal and her brother. Serving as a principal for the past 10 years, Saxena was travelling to Delhi to receive the Best Teacher Award on the occasion of Teachers’ Day from the President of India. Saxena was robbed of Rs 50,000 by three unidentified men who sprayed chemicals on her and her relative on Wednesday afternoon.

Lying in the emergency ward of South Delhi’s Moolchand hospital, Surender recalls: “The three men were in their early twenties. They were telling me they were travelling from Nagpur for setting up business. Around 2:30 pm, she was feeling hungry and we had lunch.”

“Since we have been talking to them, she offered them sauce (chutney). Once they gave it back, she went back to sleep. She was feeling uneasy. In the meantime, I went to the toilet. By that time, they had sprayed a chemical on her.”

“After coming back from the toilet, they ordered tea for me. I took one sip and started feeling uneasy. The two men immediately asked me to throw it and I did. I too felt drowsy and went to sleep.

“Since they had offered us the upper berths to use, we started talking to them. After I fell asleep, I sensed someone was being sprayed on me.”

“On reaching <g data-gr-id="53">Nizammuddin</g> station, a sanitation worker woke me up and informed that we have reached the last destination. I tried to wake up Rekhaji but she was still unconscious. I also discovered that our handbag which contained Rs 50,000 was not there.”

He raised an alarm and called 108. By that time, the vendors had also informed the local police. The GRP police reached the spot.

Sandip Bhatia, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Railway, said: “The incident occurred between Agra and Mathura so we have registered the First Hand Information report at the <g data-gr-id="51">Nizammuddin</g> Railway station under Sections 328, 379 and 34 of the IPC. We have forwarded the details to Mathura police. They will carry on the investigation.”

Meanwhile, Dr Harmeet Singh, <g data-gr-id="54">incharge</g> of Emergency ward, said: “Rekha Saxena is under observation and she is in a state of drowsiness so we have shifted her to the ICU. Surender is vitally stable. We will keep them under observation for the next 48 hours.”

Smriti Irani, Union Human and Resource Development Minister too visited the affected persons at the hospital. Surender confirmed and said: “She assured us that special arrangements would be made for Rekhaji.”
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