September 16, 2003	Tuesday	Rajab 18, 1424

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MULTAN, Sept 15: As many as 19 people, including four women, were found unconscious in the Zakariya Express Train (25-UP) at the Sadiqabad and Khanpur railway stations in Rahim Yar Khan on Monday.

According to a press note released by the Pakistan Railways SSP Dr Sain Allah Rakhio Mirani, the escorting staff of the railways, Multan division police, took security charge of the train when it arrived at the Sadiqabad station about 5am.

On routine checking, the staff found four passengers lying unconscious in various bogies of the train. They were handed over to the Sukkur division police for treatment and investigation.

In the meanwhile, the train set out for Multan. At the Khanpur station, the escorting staff found 15 more passengers, including four women, unconscious in the coach No 9678.

They were identified as Irshad, Atarab Khan, Abdus Salam, Mirza Ashraf, Nadra Perveen and Nafeesa Perveen, of Karachi, Shabbir Ahmad, Nasir Ali, Rafiq, Sheraz and Najma Bibi, of Bahawalpur, Bilqees of Bahawalnagar, Saeed Anwar of Vehari, Abdul Lateef of Lalamusa, and Maral Dhola of Lodhran.

They were admitted to the Khanpur Tehsil Headquarters Hospital. The Railways police secured their belongings, the press note concluded.

Passengers taking snacks and tea at Rohri have been found unconscious on more than one occasion. It is learnt that organized gang(s) of plunderers are active in incidents of this nature. Train passengers on this route had been robbed many times before and in all the cases the victims were found unconscious.

The Multan Railways police had busted some gangs operating at various railway stations here some time ago.