Nigerian dies after detention at Indian railway station

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A Nigerian national has died after he was detained and questioned by Railway Protection Force officials at Surat Railway Station in India, with the Government Railway Police launching an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

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The man, whose identity was not disclosed, was travelling from Mumbai to Delhi on the Golden Temple Express when he was detained at Surat following an alleged altercation with fellow passengers, according to a report by The Indian Express on Thursday.

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Police said the incident began on August 17 after a passenger contacted the railway helpline, 139, to report that the Nigerian national and another passenger were allegedly fighting near one of the train’s gates.

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The Nigerian allegedly sprayed a fire extinguisher at co-passengers during the altercation while the train was travelling between Vapi and Surat stations, police sources said.

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He was subsequently detained at Surat and taken to the RPF office for questioning, where he reportedly collapsed.

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He was rushed to the Surat Municipal Institute of Medical Education and Research Hospital, “where doctors declared him dead on arrival.”

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The Surat GRP has registered a case of “accidental death”, while the post-mortem examination conducted on August 18 was awaiting its report as of Wednesday evening, according to the report.

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Western Railway Superintendent of Police, Abhay Soni, said preliminary findings indicated that the deceased was a Nigerian national who lived in Vasai, Mumbai.

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“After primary investigations, it is believed that the deceased was a Nigerian national. When Surat RPF caught him, he didn’t have any of his identity cards with him,” Soni told The Indian Express.

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Soni also disclosed that the man had previously been arrested twice by police in Mumbai in connection with cocaine trafficking cases.

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“He lived in Vasai (Mumbai) and was arrested twice by Malwani and Malad police in Mumbai for drug (cocaine) trafficking cases in 2018,” he said.

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The police officer said the purpose of the Nigerian’s trip to Delhi remained under investigation and confirmed that he had boarded the train from Borivali in Mumbai.

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Soni said the GRP had commenced an inquiry into the death, with statements expected from officers involved in the detention and those present at the RPF office.

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“We have started an inquiry. Statements from the police officials who caught him and those present at the police station will be taken. We are also waiting for the autopsy report,” he said.

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The investigation into the death is being conducted by Deputy Superintendent of Police D H Gaur.

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