Mystery over death of train passenger

Nagpur, May 29 (UNI) Mystery shrouds the death of a passenger, whose body was found in a compartment of the 2913 Indore-Nagpur Express here.

According to police, 42-year-old Vijay Mankar, a resident of Nagpur, was found dead yesterday morning when the train arrived here.

Two other passengers, identified as Gautam Kawadu Dhok (47), a resident of Nagpur, and Sudhir Warange (20), a resident of Pandhurna in Madhya Pradesh, who were accompanying Mankar, were found unconscious, and were admitted to a local hospital, police said.

The cause of Mankar's death had not been ascertained yet as the post mortem report had not been received, they said. Mr Dhok and Mr Warange had regained consciousness but were still not in a position to give statements, police said.

It is suspected that all the three were administered a dose of sedative substance through biscuits shortly after the train left Indore, probably with the intention of stealing their belongings.

Unconfirmed reports said Mr Mankar died of head injuries sustained when he fell from his upper berth in an unconscious state.

Meanwhile, the body of a 60-year old person, suspected to be a beggar, was found yesterday in a compartment in 2967 Chennai-Jaipur Express last afternoon. He has not yet been identified, police added.

UNI