Title - Mineral water being used to target train passengers

Mineral water bottles are the latest 'weapon' for zehar khuran to target passengers travelling in trains on Delhi-Bihar route.In a recent incident, two zehar khurans had drugged and robbed more than 12 passengers onboard Mahananda Express between Aligarh and Khagaria railway stations after offering mineral water bottle mixed with poisonous substances.The passengers after drinking water offered by zehar khurans fell unconscious. GRP had lodged an FIR in connection with this incident. Later, Bihar GRP told their UP counterparts about the incident.GRP has been appealing to passengers not to accept any eatable or soft drink offered by unidentified co-passengers.SP, Railways, Mahesh Kumar Mishra told TOI, "We have been appealing passengers not to accept cold drinks/mineral water bottle or eatables from unidentified co-passengers".

He added that cops in plain dresses have been traveling in both general and reserved compartments to keep an eye on suspected drugging and robbing gang members and cops have been also instructed to take corrective measures in the same regard.

Trains between Delhi and Bihar routes are under GRP scanner and cops posted at Allahabad, Kanpur, Varanasi and Mughalsarai railway stations have been asked to maintain a strict watch on the activities of zehar khurans.

"Zehar khurans are expert in changing modus operandi and they have their work areas defined," said a GRP official.

Zehar khurans usually prefer to travel in gangs. While one in the gang will get down mid-way, he will inform others about the status of the task, as in, if the passenger, whom the gang is targeting, has been drugged or not. Most of the time zehar khurans book tickets for a long distance journey but get down 10 to 12 hours before the train's scheduled stoppage at the destination till which they have booked a ticket.