Thrissur: The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has arrested a 24-year-old man from Bihar for allegedly placing heavy hazardous debris on railway tracks along the Shoranur-Ottappalam route in Kerala. The suspect, identified as Shuklal Marayya from Katihar district in Bihar, was arrested following a joint investigation by local police and railway security forces. He was subsequently produced before the court and remanded to judicial custody.

Hazardous debris spotted on track near Shoranur

The incident occurred on Tuesday near Mannanur railway station when multiple heavy obstructions were discovered on the line. Around 9:35 am, Railway Signal and Telecommunication staff spotted a heavy concrete slab on the track near Mannanur and cleared it immediately. Shortly afterwards, at 10:07 am, the loco pilot of the Kannur-Coimbatore Express (Train No. 16607) noticed a bag and a piece of iron rail on the adjacent track while passing through the section. A cement bag was also found lying on the down line between Mannanur and Shoranur.

Railway personnel acted promptly to clear all objects from the track. Security personnel from Palakkad, Ottapalam, and Shoranur rushed to the site to inspect the area. Railway Engineering officials inspected the track thoroughly and certified it fit for train movement by 10:30 am, preventing any delay to train services.

Suspect admits placing debris over job frustration

Following the discovery, security forces mounted a search and caught Marayya. During interrogation, he reportedly confessed to walking from the Mannanur side and placing the concrete slab and iron rail piece on the line. Marayya claimed that unemployment and anger towards society prompted his actions, despite knowing that placing such heavy objects could cause a major train derailment. Police and railway security authorities have completed initial legal formalities and placed him under court remand. Earlier reports stated that the person was suffering from mental illness.