A 30-year-old man accused of stabbing a fellow passenger to death inside a moving Mumbai local train after an argument over closing the coach door during heavy rain has been arrested from Kurla following a citywide manhunt involving six Railway Police teams.
The accused, identified as Roshan Suvarna, was arrested after investigators traced his location through leads developed during the questioning of his father, police said.
The victim, Mayank Lohar, 22, was allegedly stabbed inside the first-class coach of the Churchgate-Nallasopara Fast Local (Train No. 90663) late on Monday night.
According to the Government Railway Police (GRP), both Mayank and Roshan boarded the train at Andheri station. As heavy rain lashed Mumbai, an argument broke out between the two over whether the coach door should remain open or be shut.
What began as a verbal altercation soon turned deadly.
Investigators said the dispute escalated while the train was travelling between Andheri and Borivali stations.
Roshan allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed Mayank in the abdomen inside the moving train, leaving him critically injured.
Passengers inside the coach were left shocked as the attack unfolded during the late-night journey.
Police believe the fatal stabbing stemmed from the disagreement over closing the rain-soaked train door.
According to railway officials, the accused jumped off the train at Borivali's Platform No. 6 before it came to a complete halt and escaped.
The train reached Borivali station at 11.04 pm.
Within minutes, personnel from the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police and medical teams rushed to the coach.
At 11.07 pm, rescue teams reached the compartment along with a stretcher and support staff.
By 11.12 pm, Mayank was taken out of the coach and shifted for emergency medical treatment.
Doctors at the Emergency Medical Room examined him at 11.22 pm and declared him dead.
At 11.42 pm, his body was shifted by ambulance to Shatabdi Hospital in Kandivali for post-mortem and legal procedures.
Following the murder, Borivali GRP launched a large-scale operation to identify and trace the suspect.
Six teams were formed to hunt for the accused.
Investigators secured CCTV footage from railway stations and gathered other evidence soon after the incident. Senior Western Railway officials also reached Borivali station and reviewed the response.
Police sources said Roshan's whereabouts were eventually established after sustained questioning of his father.
He was subsequently arrested from Kurla.
Investigators said Roshan Suvarna worked in the cargo section at Mumbai Airport.
He is currently being questioned as police continue their investigation into the circumstances that led to the fatal attack.
The incident has once again raised concerns over passenger safety on Mumbai's suburban railway network, where millions travel daily and minor disputes can rapidly spiral into deadly violence.
Source: India Today