In a chilling testimony, a woman passenger revealed how RPF constable Chetansinh Chaudhary forced her to chant ‘Jai Mata Di’ at gunpoint during the Jaipur-Mumbai train rampage in July 2023. The incident, which left four dead, is under trial in Mumbai court.
Mumbai: On September 15, in a shocking testimony, a woman passenger on board the Jaipur-Mumbai Central Superfast Express revealed before a local court how RPF constable Chetansinh Chaudhary forced her to chant “Jai Mata Di” at gunpoint during his deadly attack on a moving train in July 2023.
The incident, which claimed the lives of four people, including his senior colleague, Assistant Sub-Inspector Tikaram Meena, has shocked the nation.
The 38-year-old woman witness appeared before Additional Sessions Judge Y B Pathan on Monday and recounted the terrifying sequence of events involving the then Railway Protection Force constable.
According to her, after chanting the religious invocation, she bravely grabbed Chaudhary’s rifle and moved it away from her, preventing immediate harm.
Chaudhary had allegedly shot dead Meena along with three passengers aboard the train near Palghar railway station in Maharashtra on July 31, 2023. The constable was later caught near the railway tracks and has remained in judicial custody since the incident.
During her testimony, the woman said she was travelling with her two children on the day of the attack. She recalled,
“She had woken up at 5:30 AM and was wearing shoes for going to the washroom when he saw a man in a police uniform walking into the train compartment.”
She further explained,
“He pointed his rifle at the woman and told her in Hindi that ‘if you want to stay in this country, you will have to say ‘Jai Mata Di’.”
The witness said she complied and whispered the invocation softly, but the accused demanded, “Repeat it loudly,” and threatened to shoot her if she did not obey.
At that moment, she managed to grab the rifle that was aimed at her, lifted it upwards, and questioned the man’s identity.
The constable responded by warning her,
“Do not touch the rifle or I will shoot you.”
Fearful for her life, she released the gun, and the man then walked away. These details were presented during her examination by Additional Public Prosecutor Sudhir Sapkale.
In cross-examination by defence lawyer Jaywant Patil, the woman remained firm in her account of the events, stating she was not lying.
She added that the accused specifically targeted her because she was wearing a burqa. She also identified Chaudhary, who attended the proceedings via video conferencing.
This testimony adds critical details to the ongoing investigation and trial of Chetansinh Chaudhary, whose violent actions on the Jaipur-Mumbai train continue to be a matter of public and legal scrutiny. The court proceedings are expected to continue as witnesses testify and evidence is examined.
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