WB: Ticketless passengers shoot dead coach attendant

A coach attendant was killed and another seriously injured when they were shot at apparently by two ticketless travellers inside a running express train in Burdwan district in the wee hours of Saturday.

The duo were shot inside the air-conditioned compartment at 2.30 am, minutes before the Uttar Pradesh Himgiri Express reached Asansol Station, apparently by the two ticketless passengers who had boarded the train from Howrah Station late on Friday night, said Jagadananda Jha, Asansol divisional railway manager.

Sagar Thakur, who received bullet injuries on his chest, was declared dead at the Asansol sub-divisional hospital while Ganesh Shaw is battling for his life, he said.

According to statements given by passengers to railway officials, two men who had forcibly boarded the train and had a fight with the coach attendants minutes later. They managed to seat themselves in the AC compartment and even took to drinking, which was opposed by the attendants, passengers said.

Railway officials said the duo managed to escape at Asansol Station after firing.