Hyderabad: Dacoits stopped a train coming from Chennai to Hyderabad and robbed six women between Ammanabrolu and Uppugundur railway stations in the Chirala-Ongole section on Saturday midnight.

The robbers snatched the gold ornaments of sleeping women in at least five coaches of the Charminar Express from outside the window. Railway police suspects that some gang members had got on to the train as passengers and had pulled the chain to enable the gang to board. RPF officials admitted that there was not even a single RPF man in the train despite the Chirala-Ongole route being a dacoity spot.

Railway police said the incident occurred at around 11:35 pm. Around 10 dacoits snatched ornaments from women sleeping near the windows of S-3, S-10, S-11, S-12 and S-13 compartments. The victims who complained to the Secunderabad railway police are K. Naga Jyothi, (Chennai), Smita, (Adilabad), Mallika and Sakuntalamma from Sullurupet.

"Somebody pulled the chain and when the train stopped gangsters hiding in the bushes robbed the passengers. Everything was over in minutes,” said an SCR official.

Police said that GRP Ongole SI Bhavanarayana was on the train. However, he could not do much alone. RPF chief security commissioner S.C. Parhi said that although the area was listed as dangerous the train was not escorted. “Due to staff shortage we have a rotation system. It’s impossible to guard all trains. On Saturday the Charminar Express was not escorted,” he said.

After the incident the assistant security commissioner of RPF Vijayawada rushed to the spot along with the inspectors of Chirala and Ongole. “All police stations between Ongole and Chirala were alerted. Security has been tightened in the Vijayawada-Gudur section. More cops are being deputed to escort trains. Policemen are being stationed at stations too. The RPF has assured cooperation and has sought action to nab the thieves,” said SCR officials.