Rail men split over Elena's death

Rail men split over Elena's death

Preetu Nair, TNN

PANAJI: Konkan railway officials appear to be divided over the manner in which Elena Sukhonova, 19, could have died. The Russian teenager’s mutilated body was found on the railway tracks about 3.5 km north of Thivim station on May 8.

While KRC PRO Baban Ghatge, says that in his six years of service as PRO he has never seen anyone fall from the train onto the tracks, two ticket checkers told the police this was possible. Ghatge, was called by the cops after he disputed their theory that Elena could have fallen from the train and come under the wheels of the train.

“It is my opinion that if someone falls from the train, they will fall away from the tracks and not on the tracks. This statement is based on six years of experience with the KRC,” said Ghatge.

Two ticket collectors, however, dispute this. “We have recorded the statements of two ticket checkers who told us that there have been cases wherein passengers falling from trains have fallen on the tracks,” said a senior police official.

Backing his theory, Ghatge said, “We have come across several cases of people falling from running trains, but no one was dragged onto the tracks. I have also discussed the matter with the Railway Protection Force (RPF).” Ghatge admitted that he has not visited the spot where the Russian’s body was found.

The Konkan railway official reiterated that his statements to the media were not in his official capacity but his personal opinion. He said that KRC has no official comment to issue in the case. “Our only official statement is that the police are investigating the case and they should be allowed to carry out the investigations,” said Ghatge.

He also said that not a single foreigner purchased a ticket from Thivim station during the early hours of May 8. “We have also submitted a list of reserved passengers to the police and Elena’s name doesn’t figure in it,” he added.

Meanwhile, the sessions court rejected the anticipatory bail plea filed by Vishant Kundaikar, owner of the O’Pinhal Buckingham Shack on Calangute beach.

16 May 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition