By Mardiyyah Abubakar
A Nigerian national has died after he was detained and questioned by Railway Protection Force (RPF) officials at Surat Railway Station in India.
The Government Railway Police (GRP) has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
The man, whose identity has not been disclosed, was travelling from Mumbai to Delhi aboard the Golden Temple Express when RPF officials detained him following an alleged altercation with fellow 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, to report that the Nigerian and another passenger were allegedly fighting near one of the train’s gates.
Police alleged that the Nigerian sprayed a fire extinguisher at some passengers during the altercation while the train travelled between Vapi and Surat stations.
RPF officials subsequently detained him when the train arrived at Surat and took him to their office for questioning.
However, he reportedly collapsed while being questioned.
Officials rushed him to the Surat Municipal Institute of Medical Education and Research Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
The Surat GRP has registered a case of accidental death while authorities await the outcome of a post-mortem examination conducted on August 18.
Western Railway Superintendent of Police, Abhay Soni, confirmed that preliminary investigations identified the deceased as a Nigerian national who lived in Vasai, Mumbai.
Soni said the man was not carrying any identity documents when RPF officials detained him.
“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.
The police officer also disclosed that the deceased had previously been arrested twice in Mumbai over alleged cocaine trafficking.
According to Soni, Malwani and Malad police arrested the man in 2018 in connection with separate drug trafficking cases.
He said authorities were still investigating the purpose of the man’s trip to Delhi and confirmed that he boarded the Golden Temple Express at Borivali in Mumbai.
Soni said the GRP had commenced a detailed inquiry into the death.
“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,” he said.
Deputy Superintendent of Police D H Gaur is leading the investigation.
Authorities are expected to question the officers involved in the man’s detention and others who were present at the RPF office before his collapse.
The autopsy report is expected to provide further information on the circumstances and possible cause of his death.
