Thokur incident: It wasn’t armed robbery, but a scuffle between coconut pickers, say railway police

Mangaluru: Railway police clarified that the incident reported to be ‘an armed robbery‘ on the Dadar-Tirunalveli train on Friday was, in fact, a scuffle between two coconut pickers.

Police said the accused, identified as Jayaprabha (28) and Prasad (23) from Tamil Nadu, have been arrested in connection with the incident.

According to police, the accused had been to Goa for plucking coconuts during the season. They had boarded the train to Tamil Nadu to reach home. They were both inebriated.

As the train approached Thokur, there was an argument between them, and they took out the long sickles used for plucking coconuts. They went on a rampage, damaging property on the train including the window glass and seats.

The other passengers mistook the fight for an armed robbery and informed the railway staff.

The accused were restrained and later arrested by the railway police.