Key Witness Testifies in Jaipur-Mumbai Train Shooting Trial Against Ex-RPF Constable

Swift Summary

• The trial against dismissed RPF constable Chetan Singh, accused of killing four individuals on July 31, 2023, continues.
• A passenger witness testified in court,recalling how Singh pointed a service rifle at him and his family before backing away following a commotion from other passengers.
• The witness pulled the train chain to halt its movement, effectively ending the sequence of events that led to Singh alighting from the train.
• Singh allegedly killed his superior ASI Tikaram Meena and three passengers on the Jaipur-Mumbai Superfast Express between Vaitarna and Mira Road stations. He gave a communally charged speech near one victim’s body afterward.
• During cross-examination, the witness denied claims by defense counsel suggesting prior identification of Singh through news coverage or inaccuracies in his account regarding tickets or the rifle used in the crime.
• Six witnesses have deposed so far; this trial will resume on September 15.

Indian Opinion Analysis
the ongoing trial against Chetan Singh is significant for probing accountability within India’s security apparatus while assessing communal tensions often reflected in crimes with ideological undertones. Testimonies like that of civilian witnesses play an integral role by providing firsthand accounts critical for ensuring justice is served impartially based on evidence rather than conjecture or bias toward external narratives from media portrayals during high-profile cases such as this one. As five additional witnesses have already contributed their statements earlier in court proceedings, developments tied to factual examinations remain essential as broader questions regarding safety aboard public transport systems and societal impacts emerge amid this case’s trajectory.

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