Bikaner, Nov.03,2025:The Sabarmati Express stabbing occurred late Sunday night aboard Sabarmati Express (Train No. 12415) in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district-
The incident unfolded in sleeper coach S-7 shortly after the train departed from Loonkaransar station, around 11 p.m. A 27-year-old Indian Army serviceman, Jigar Kumar from Gujarat, who had boarded at Firozabad and was travelling to his home in Bikaner, became embroiled in a dispute with coach attendants over seating arrangements.
What began as a seating disagreement quickly escalated. The attendants allegedly attacked Jigar with a knife, inflicting multiple stab wounds to his chest and abdomen. The train continued to its destination, but by the time Jigar reached the trauma centre at PBM Hospital in Bikaner, he had succumbed to his injuries.
Police from the GRP Bikaner promptly secured the scene. They have detained two to three coach attendants for interrogation, collected forensic evidence including the knife and blood traces, and registered a murder case.
Who Was the Soldier
In the Sabarmati Express stabbing, the victim, Jigar Kumar, aged 27, was a soldier stationed in the Indian Army. He had recently taken leave and was returning home to Bikaner from his leave transit via Firozabad.
Family members described him as a responsible serviceman, married just two years ago. His untimely death has triggered both sorrow in his immediate circle and outrage on social media and among army colleagues. The Army has dispatched an inquiry team and assured full support to the bereaved family.
The fact that a uniformed soldier, travelling under scheduled train service and within regulated environment, became the victim of such violence raises deeper concerns about rail-safety protocols and protection of armed-forces personnel.
The Suspects and Their Motive
The initial probe into the Sabarmati Express stabbing suggests that the conflict began as a seemingly trivial seating dispute between Jigar and the attendants of the sleeper coach. After boarding at Firozabad, the disagreement arose just after the train left Loonkaransar.
According to statements given to police, the attendants became aggressive and, in a violent escalation, deployed a knife to attack the soldier. The motive appears to be connected to the seating arrangement dispute, but investigators are not ruling out other angles, including possible conspiracy or deeper negligence by railway staff.
Police are currently holding multiple attendants for questioning. The presence of a knife, blood traces in the coach, and the rapid onset of fatal injuries suggest an unusually severe breach of conduct by railway personnel. The investigation will determine whether this was a spontaneous act, or symptomatic of larger systemic failures.
Rail Security Under Siege
The Sabarmati Express stabbing isn’t just an isolated crime—it underscores a broader crisis in railway security and passenger protection.
Vulnerability in Moving Trains
This incident happened while the train was in motion, leaving no immediate means of intervention by passengers or external agencies. The inability to stop the train swiftly, provide medical aid en-route, or isolate perpetrators demonstrates key vulnerabilities.
Trust in Railway Staff Broken
Coach attendants are meant to assist passengers, enforce rules respectfully, and ensure safe travel. That attendants allegedly turned violent with a knife point to alarming breakdowns in training, oversight, and accountability.
Impact on Soldier Mobility
When serving military personnel become victims of such violence in transit, it raises questions about how protected they are while travelling. The fact that the victim was on duty leave adds a national-security dimension to what may look like a local crime.
Domino Effect on Public Confidence
Tourists, families, soldiers—many rely on rail travel across long distances. When one high-profile incident occurs, it sends a message that any passenger might be vulnerable. Public trust in the railway system takes a blow.
Police, Army and Railway Officials React
Following the Sabarmati Express stabbing, a series of institutional actions have been initiated-
- The GRP Bikaner immediately took custody of suspicious attendants, seized the knife and forensic evidence, recorded statements of passengers.
- The Army authorities have initiated an internal investigation, deployed a team from the base to Bikaner, and pledged all‐round assistance to the family of Jigar Kumar.
- The railway administration has begun an internal review of coach S-7 of the Sabarmati Express, checking duty rosters of attendants, CCTV footage (if any), emergency response logs, and medical procedures followed for injured passengers.
However, as of writing, no senior railway official has publicly spoken at length about systemic failures, and civil-society groups are demanding more transparent accountability and rapid improvements in safety protocols.
How to Avert Another Sabarmati Express Stabbing
To prevent future tragedies like the Sabarmati Express stabbing, a multi-pronged approach is needed-
Enhanced Screening & Training of Railway Staff
Attendants and on-board personnel must undergo stricter background checks, mandatory behavioural training, conflict de-escalation modules, and periodic evaluation of conduct.
Real-Time Surveillance & Panic Mechanisms
Install CCTV cameras in every sleeper coach, create a panic-button system linked to the locomotive and railway control, enable passengers and crew to raise alerts in motion.
Medical Assistance Protocols
Trains must be equipped with first-aid kits and designated staff trained to respond to knife-attack injuries. Emergency coordination with nearest stations ( Loonkaransar) should allow rapid diversion if required.
Special Protection for Armed-Forces Travellers
Given that serving soldiers may travel by rail while on leave, protocols should flag such travel and ensure additional safety oversight—perhaps dedicated coach attendants or surveillance.
Transparent Investigation & Public Reporting
After events like the Sabarmati Express stabbing, railway and police authorities should publish a swift incident report, highlight systemic failures, and list remedial actions taken. Transparency builds public trust.
Broader Implications for Train Travel & Army Personnel
The ripple effects of the Sabarmati Express stabbing extend far beyond this single case-
- For train passengers: The incident highlights that even mainstream trains with routine stops and standard staff can harbour risks. Vigilance is now more necessary than ever.
- For armed-forces personnel: While the army provides robust protection in many contexts, transit safety remains a weak spot. This may push the forces to rethink how soldiers travel on leave and whether certain segments require dedicated security.
- For rail-policy makers: The incident serves as a clarion call to overhaul safety frameworks, not merely for luxury or high-speed trains, but for everyday sleeper services.
- For public perception: News of such violence undermines confidence in rail travel—a backbone of Indian connectivity. Rebuilding that confidence will require visible reforms and public-facing improvements.
The Path Forward After the Sabarmati Express Stabbing
The Sabarmati Express stabbing is a tragic milestone in an era where rail travel was believed to be relatively safe. A soldier lost his life, and countless passengers now face the unsettling reality that danger may lurk even in routine journeys.
Change is imperative—and possible. With decisive action by railway authorities, coordinated oversight by the Army and police, and empowered passengers, we can aim to ensure this remains a rare anomaly rather than a harbinger of worsening safety.
