Stabbing on Mumbai local train: Victim had planned dinner outing with wife for her birthday | Mumbai News

Mumbai: College teacher Alok Kumar Singh had planned a dinner outing with his wife on her birthday and was heading home in Malad’s Kurar village when he was stabbed to death in a local train on Saturday. Singh’s family members initially told his wife, Pooja, that he had an accident and was hospitalised. She learnt of his death on Sunday morning.“They had got married two years ago and were saving to buy a house. Pooja is pursuing BEd and took online tuitions,” said a relative. Pooja said her husband had never raised his voice or had a fight with anyone in his entire life.Singh’s family comprises many teachers, including his sister and his uncle. His father, Anil Kumar, part of the security detail of defence minister Rajnath Singh, arrived in Mumbai on Sunday.Sudhir Kumar Trivedi, Singh’s colleague and the prime witness in the fatal attack in a train at Malad, said: “Arguments among passengers are common in local trains and I’ve witnessed many fights, but had never imagined it could end in a stabbing incident.” Trivedi said he got off the train and briefly chased the culprit, but rushed back to help Singh who was bleeding severely.On Saturday, around 5pm, Singh and Trivedi left Narsee Monjee College in Vile Parle and headed to Andheri station. They boarded a Borivli-slow local around 5.25pm. “We stood in the passage. Just before the train was to reach Malad where Alok alights, I said ‘bye’ to him and moved to one side to travel further. The accused was behind Alok. They were arguing over alighting,” he said.According to the FIR, the accused, later identified as Omkar Shinde, said to Singh, “Malad aa raha hai. Malad utarna hai kya? Utarna hai toh aage chal. (Malad station is arriving. Do you want to alight? If yes, move ahead.)” At this, Singh responded, “Malad utarna hai, lekin aage ladies hai. Dikhta nahi kya? (I want to get off at Malad, but there are women ahead of me. Can’t you see?)” When the train halted at platform 1 around 5.44pm, Singh caught hold of the vertical rod, looked at Trivedi and said: “Isne pet mein kuch maar diya hai.(He has hit me in the stomach with something.)” Trivedi told TOI he got off the train and ran after the accused, but Shinde climbed a foot overbridge. “I returned to find Alok bleeding and stood by his side till police arrived and he was moved to hospital. Later, police recorded my statement and I was brought back to the crime scene to help with the investigation.”According to railway officials, Singh was moved to Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital at Kandivli between 6pm and 6.05pm. He was pronounced dead by doctors at 6.15pm.An N M College official said they are all shocked by the incident. After the flag hoisting on Monday, the college plans to hold a condolence meeting for Singh.