Ayurvedic doctor from Dhanbad leads mission to curb drugging & robbing of train passengers

Dhanbad: For more than three decades, local ayurvedic doctor Gautam Singh Gupta has waged a relentless battle against ‘zehar khurani’ — in which train passengers are drugged or poisoned by criminals and then robbed.Gupta decided to dedicate himself to eradicating this menace after an acquaintance fell victim to such a crime. Since then, Gupta has formed a small team and worked in an organised manner to assist dozens of such victims on trains. His efforts not only helped save the lives of many passengers but also ensured that they safely returned home.Recalling his first experience, Gupta said he once visited a railway hospital where he found a passenger lying unconscious after being drugged. “I treated him using ayurvedic methods. When he regained consciousness, I contacted his family members and ensured that he returned home safely,” he said.Since then, he has helped victims whenever he received information about such cases. Gupta said that whenever he learns about a suspected case, he immediately contacts the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and railway hospitals to ensure that the affected passenger received treatment and assistance in reaching their destination safely.However, Gupta felt that the system did not provide adequate support to eliminate the crime completely. “If authorities extend proper cooperation, crimes like zehar khurani can be eradicated,” he said.He has written to Indian Railways and the Centre, demanding stronger action against such criminal gangs. Gupta also suggested the formation of a special task force to identify and arrest those involved in drugging and robbing passengers on trains.According to Gupta, the number of such incidents has declined compared to earlier years. He attributed the improvement largely to increased awareness among passengers.As part of his campaign, Gupta and his team regularly conduct awareness drives at stations and inside trains. They advise passengers not to accept food or drinks from strangers and to avoid unnecessary interaction with unknown co-travellers.Gupta’s initiative has been widely appreciated by locals and social organisations. By collaborating with several voluntary groups, he has continued his mission to make railway travel safer.