According to the police, the incident occurred aboard an Ernakulam-Kollam MEMU train near Sasthamkotta railway station. When the officers approached Abhijith for questioning, he allegedly assaulted them and attempted to flee. Despite the darkness, the two personnel pursued him along the moving train and overpowered him after a brief struggle, leading to his arrest.
Investigators said Abhijith had escaped from the custody of the Tamil Nadu Police last month while being taken for a medical examination after his arrest in a theft case in Tiruchirappalli. Following his escape, he allegedly resumed targeting passengers travelling through Kollam railway station.
Police stated that Abhijith has allegedly been involved in train thefts for nearly six years, primarily targeting passengers travelling in Kerala and neighbouring states. According to investigators, he would board trains with valid tickets, pose as an ordinary passenger, and allegedly steal bags containing laptops, mobile phones, and gold ornaments, particularly from air-conditioned coaches, before leaving the train without attracting suspicion.
Investigators further revealed that his alleged method involved jumping off moving trains at isolated locations immediately after committing thefts, making it extremely difficult for law enforcement agencies to trace him. Most of the alleged thefts were reportedly committed during the night to avoid surveillance cameras and eyewitnesses.
During the arrest, police recovered Rs 65,500 in cash, a laptop, and two mobile phones from his possession. Investigators suspect the recovered items were stolen property. They further alleged that the proceeds from the thefts were used to finance drug consumption and an extravagant lifestyle.
Police said Abhijith is facing multiple criminal cases registered at various police stations in Kollam district, including charges related to theft, robbery, offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, and offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. According to investigators, he is also wanted in several similar cases registered in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
The two Government Railway Police personnel, Arun Dev and Rajesh Kumar, sustained injuries during the altercation. A separate criminal case has been registered against the accused for allegedly assaulting public servants while they were discharging their official duties.
Following his arrest, Abhijith was produced before a court in Kollam, which remanded him to judicial custody. The investigation is being conducted by a special team led by Railway Police Inspector VV Divin under the supervision of Railway Police Superintendent Krishnakumar. The arrest is considered a significant breakthrough in the investigation into a series of train theft cases that had affected passengers across multiple states.
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