Rail commuters warned:

Robber gangs on the prowl

Chaminda PERERA

The Railways Department yesterday alerted rail commuters about organized gangs who rob the belongings of passengers on long distance trains.

According to Department sources, these gangs befriend the unsuspected commuters by resorting to various tactics.

They offer seats to the passengers who go on pilgrimage with their families and win their confidence. This kind of goodwill measure invariably ends up with the gangs offering a meal brought by them.

The passengers are left with little option other than being obliged to sharing the meal offered by the gang members as a gesture of appreciation for assisting them by consuming the meal which had been mixed with drugs.

The gangsters then relieve the passengers of their cash and valuables after they become unconscious. Commercial Superintendent of Railways Department Wijaya Samarasinghe said that the Department has received a number of such complaints from passengers who go on pilgrimage on long distance trains. He said that these kinds of robberies can not be averted without educating the passengers.

The passengers should be vigilant about strangers who offer to assist them.

“This kind of situation did not exist during the past few years as security on long distance trains had been tight due to terrorism. But this kind of activity is on the increase on long distance trains with the relaxation of security measures.