8 arrested in Lucknow for targeting lone train passengers

Bazarkhala police in Lucknow have arrested eight men accused of targeting lone passengers arriving at Aishbagh railway station. The gang allegedly offered to arrange accommodation, then took victims to an isolated spot, assaulted them, and forced them to transfer money through digital payment platforms.

According to UP Police, the accused approached Mau resident Sudhakar Pal after he arrived on the Kaifiyat Express on August 10. They allegedly took him to an isolated location near Charbagh, beat him, and made him transfer money in five transactions. They then damaged his phone and forced him to consume water mixed with a narcotic, causing him to lose consciousness. A case was registered based on Pal's complaint, and police used CCTV footage and intelligence to identify the suspects.

The eight accused were arrested near Aishbagh station on Saturday. They include Raj Verma, Nikhil Rawat, Abhijeet Rajput, Raj Rajput, Meraj Ahmed, Aditya Verma, Dhirendra Pratap Singh, and Nisar Ahmed. Police recovered a scooter, a motorcycle, and a mobile phone used in the crime. Dhirendra Singh has a criminal record, with three prior cases of assault, extortion, and criminal intimidation registered against him between 2020 and 2023.