Former DIG Shot Dead by Robbers in Train at Rajendra Nagar Terminal
Patna: June 4, 2006
Armed robbers on Lokmanya Tilak Super-fast Express snaking out of the Rajendra Nagar Terminal in Patna on Sunday shot and killed a former DIG Anil Kumar Singh after the victim tried to resist the criminals from snatching his belongings, the police said.
According to the reports, about half-a-dozen passengers carrying knives and pistols entered into the air-conditioned coach of Lok Manya Tilak. As soon as the train started to move, the criminals started snatching valuables from all the passengers. When the former DIG refused to let go of his luggage, one of the criminals shot him from a close range.
Singh died on the spot.
The passengers, however, managed to grab hold of one of the criminals who was beaten and handed over to the police.
The police, based on the information provided by the captured criminal, raided an area in Karbigahia and arrested all other criminals while also recovering the stolen items.
Editor's Note (Sept.13, 2007):
Mr. Siddhartha Kumar, son of retired IPS officer late Anil Kumar Singh, provided the following information and correction:
Bihar took away the most precious part of my family - my father but it still remains my "matribhoomi". When I see people like you working selflessly for the state, it gives me the much needed consolation that not everything is lost.
Certain facts on your news item (http://www.patnadaily.com/news2006/june/060406/dig_shot_dead.html) need to be rectified :
1. He did not respond to the snatching of his belongings. He responded to other passengers being robbed. Not a single belonging of ours was snatched or robbed.
2. He did not die on the spot. When he overpowered one of the robbers, he was shot by another robber. Even after being shot, he did not let the robber get away until help arrived. After taking a bullet in his heart, he bolted the compartment holding the robber. While he was doing this, he was hit on the back of his skull with the butt of a gun. After that he started losing consciousness.
The robber held by him led the authorities to his other accomplices.
3. He breathed his last on the way to the hospital which was around 25 mins after he was shot.
Neither a fellow passenger nor a railway personnel came to his help. My mother and sister in law kept crying for help but no one came forward. The following news articles and links will give you a better picture:
http://img472.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lastsaluteik2.jpg (Hindustan Times Editorial)
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/5807.html (Indian Express) "A retired senior police officer died fighting alone with armed criminals in the heart of the city and nobody was held responsible."
I need support from people like you to keep the story of his sacrifice afresh in Bihar's memory. Shri Singh gave up his life for some values he believed in, let that not go in vain. I have tried to put together his biography (http://anil-kumar-singh-comman-mans-hero.blogspot.com/)
Kind regards,
Siddharth Kumar
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