Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
Indian authorities have opened an investigation into the death of a Nigerian national who collapsed after being detained and questioned by Railway Protection Force officials at Surat Railway Station.
The man, whose identity has not been released, was travelling from Mumbai to Delhi on the Golden Temple Express when he was detained at Surat following an alleged altercation with passengers, The Indian Express reported on Thursday.
According to police sources, the incident occurred on August 17 after a passenger contacted the railway helpline, 139, alleging that the Nigerian national and another passenger were fighting near one of the train doors.
Police sources further alleged that the Nigerian sprayed a fire extinguisher at co-passengers while the train was travelling between Vapi and Surat.
After the train arrived at Surat, Railway Protection Force officials detained the man and took him to their office for questioning. He reportedly collapsed during the process.
He was taken to the Surat Municipal Institute of Medical Education and Research Hospital, “where doctors declared him dead on arrival.”
The Surat Government Railway Police registered a case of “accidental death” and commenced an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death.
A post-mortem examination was conducted on August 18, although the report was still being awaited as of Wednesday evening.
Western Railway Superintendent of Police, Abhay Soni, said preliminary investigations indicated that the deceased was a Nigerian national who lived 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 also said the man had previously been arrested twice in Mumbai over alleged cocaine trafficking offences in 2018.
“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 said the purpose of his journey to Delhi remained under investigation and confirmed that he had boarded the train at Borivali in Mumbai.
“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,” Soni said.
The investigation is being led by Deputy Superintendent of Police D H Gaur, with statements from officers involved in the detention expected to form part of the inquiry.
