According to police, the incident began on Tuesday night at approximately 10:42 PM when Mayank Lohar, a resident of Virar employed at a Westside retail outlet in Andheri, and 30-year-old Roshan Suvarna, a resident of Mira-Bhayandar working as a barcode maker at an airport cargo hub, boarded the first-class compartment of the Churchgate–Nalasopara local train from Andheri station. Heavy rainfall was lashing Mumbai at the time, and water was entering the coach through an open door.
A disagreement quickly erupted between the two passengers, with Mayank Lohar insisting that the door be closed to prevent rainwater from entering the compartment, while Roshan Suvarna insisted it remain open. The argument intensified as the train proceeded between Andheri and Borivali, despite attempts by fellow passengers to defuse the situation.
Borivali Railway Police Senior Inspector Dattatray Khuperkar stated that eyewitness accounts confirm Roshan Suvarna became increasingly aggressive. Passengers inside the coach, which carried nearly 50 commuters, attempted to intervene and requested him to stop the argument, but he remained unresponsive. In an attempt to reduce tension, some passengers advised Mayank Lohar to move toward another door inside the compartment to create distance between them. However, no passenger physically restrained the accused.
The situation turned violent when, after Mayank Lohar moved away, Roshan Suvarna continued hurling abuses. Between Goregaon and Malad stations, he opened his bag, retrieved a knife, and suddenly attacked Mayank Lohar inside the moving train. He inflicted three to four stab wounds to the victim’s chest and abdomen.
At approximately 11:04 PM, as the train arrived at Borivali Station Platform Number 6, the accused jumped out of the compartment before the train came to a complete halt and fled the scene.
The incident was reported to the Government Railway Police and the Railway Protection Force around 11:07 PM, following which officials rushed to the compartment. The critically injured Mayank Lohar was immediately taken to the Borivali station emergency medical room and subsequently shifted to Shatabdi Hospital in Kandivali. Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of Wednesday.
A large-scale manhunt was launched to apprehend the accused. Railway police formed seven dedicated teams and examined footage from more than 40 CCTV cameras stretching from Borivali to Panvel. Investigators also reviewed mobile phone videos recorded by passengers inside the coach, which clearly showed the accused carrying a knife and moving within the compartment after the attack. Combining CCTV evidence and eyewitness footage, police traced and arrested Roshan Suvarna from Panvel within hours of the incident.
The case has raised serious concerns over passenger safety in Mumbai’s suburban railway system, particularly during peak overcrowding and adverse weather conditions, highlighting the urgent need for stronger on-board security and rapid intervention mechanisms.
About The Author
Comment List