Seat Dispute on LTT–Banaras Express Turns Violent; Theft of Jewellery and Cash Worth ₹10.53 Lakh Reported

According to the complaint, Shri Kant Shitli Prasad Mishra was travelling with his wife in coach S8 on the night of 24 April 2026 when the incident occurred. Upon reaching their reserved seats, the couple found five to six unidentified passengers already occupying them. A dispute arose over seat allocation, which quickly escalated into verbal abuse and threats. The accused allegedly threatened to throw the complainant and his wife out of the moving train.

During the confrontation, one of the passengers allegedly picked up the couple’s luggage and threw it into a corner of the coach, further intensifying the situation. Although the seats were eventually vacated, tensions reportedly resurfaced during the journey. Near Kalyan Station, the situation escalated again, with reports of shoving and physical jostling inside the coach.

Following the completion of the journey, the couple discovered that valuables stored in their trolley bag had gone missing. The stolen items included three mangalsutras, a gold chain, rings, silver ornaments, and cash amounting to ₹80,000. The total value of the stolen property was estimated at approximately ₹10.53 lakh.

The complainants reached Varanasi on 26 April 2026. However, the theft was only discovered upon returning home. A formal complaint was subsequently filed on 19 May 2026 at the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Railway Police Station. The railway police have registered a case against three unidentified accused persons. Investigation is underway, with authorities examining CCTV footage and other technical evidence to identify the perpetrators.

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Authorities continue to investigate the incident, which has raised serious concerns regarding passenger security, onboard discipline, and the effectiveness of surveillance systems in long-distance trains.