Madrasa Students Caught Tampering with Railway Track in Motihari; Dozens of Pendulums Recovered

Motihari, April 25, 2025 — Security concerns were heightened near the India-Nepal border on Friday after two madrasa students were caught by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) allegedly tampering with a railway track on the Raxaul-Darbhanga section. Authorities suspect a potential sabotage attempt, and investigations are currently underway.

The incident occurred near Kundwa Chainpur railway station in East Champaran district. According to RPF sources, the two youths were apprehended while allegedly removing "pendulums" — iron clips used to secure railway tracks — from the line. Over a dozen such clips were recovered from their possession.

Officials said the youths tried to flee after spotting railway personnel approaching. While some managed to escape, two were caught by alert RPF jawans. The recovery of so many track components from the suspects raised immediate suspicion of a bigger plan to destabilize railway operations.

RPF and local police are jointly interrogating the two suspects to determine their intentions. Preliminary reports suggest both are students from a local madrasa, though their identities have not yet been released publicly.

"This is a highly sensitive matter. We are examining all angles, including the possibility of a larger conspiracy," an RPF official said. "We are also trying to trace how they gained knowledge about these railway components and whether others were involved."

Senior officers have reached the spot, and security has been tightened across nearby stations and tracks. Authorities emphasized that tampering with railway infrastructure is a serious crime under Indian law, with potential links to sabotage and endangering public safety.

The investigation is ongoing, and officials have not ruled out the possibility of connections beyond the district.