Jhunjhunu: In an alarming incident aboard the Sainik Express travelling from Delhi Cantt to Jaipur via Sikar Wednesday, a 5-year-old boy was saved from potential kidnapping and separation from his family in Delhi, all thanks to the quick thinking of an attentive passenger.Aakash, a 29-year-old from Dausa, was travelling from Delhi with his family to pay homage at Khatu Shyamji temple in Sikar. As the train rolled along, he couldn’t ignore the incessant sobbing of the young boy, who was travelling with a man, later identified as 36-year-old Umashankar from Kosi Kalan in Mathura district. Suspicion arose when Aakash noticed the child’s distraught state and the man’s evasive responses when questioned about the child’s mother.“When I saw the boy crying and the man acting strangely, my instinct told me something was off. I knew I had to act,” Aakash recounted, reflecting on the moment that changed the course of the child’s day and possibly his life.Upon questioning, Umashankar claimed to be the boy’s father, but his inability to produce the child’s mother raised red flags among the other passengers. The man’s vague responses only heightened Aakash’s suspicions. When he could not provide a clear answer, stating that the boy’s mother was “nearby,” the atmosphere shifted. Concern grew among the other passengers who began to question the man with increasing intensity.The situation escalated when the man finally confessed that he picked up the child at the Delhi Cantt railway station. Enraged by this revelation, passengers took matters into their own hands and confronted Umashankar, ultimately leading to a physical altercation and the alleged abductor being physically restrained.As the train neared Surajgarh railway station in Jhunjhunu, Aakash swiftly informed the railway officials. Thanks to his timely report, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) acted quickly. RPF Head Constable Sudesh arrived to investigate, during which he confirmed the fears of the passengers — the boy was indeed kidnapped.The RPF detained the accused while ensuring the child’s safety. Investigations revealed that the boy belonged to a nomadic family living around the Delhi Cantt area. The child remains under RPF protection along with the accused until his mother can be located. The Sikar Govt Railway Police (GRP) is now overseeing further developments in the case.Aakash, who refused to back down, said, “It’s not just about one child; it’s about all children. We must protect those who cannot protect themselves.” His resolute actions spurred the train’s passengers to notify railway officials, prompting the Railway Protection Force (RPF) to spring into action as the train approached Jhunjhunu.The RPF, led by Head Constable Sudesh, thoroughly investigated the situation upon arrival. They confirmed the alarming truth behind Umashankar’s story and swiftly took custody of the accused while ensuring the child’s safety. RPF SI Ashok Kumar Yadav informed the Delhi Cantt GRP about the matter. Investigations revealed that the boy belonged to a nomadic family living around the Delhi Cantt area.“Had I ignored the situation, I can’t imagine what might have happened,” Aakash shared, reflecting on the incident. “We all have a role to play in watching out for one another.”The Sikar Govt Railway Police (GRP) is now overseeing further developments in the case.
