A 29-year-old man from Haryana, accused of murdering five people across four states within 25 days, has now confessed to killing a sixth person. Rahul Singh Jat, a resident of Rohtak, was arrested last month at a train station in Gujarat’s Valsad district.
Jat’s arrest followed an investigation into the rape and murder of a 19-year-old woman near Udvada railway station in Vapi, Gujarat. The victim’s body was found on November 14, sparking a probe that led to Jat’s capture. During interrogation, he admitted to murdering Fayaz Ahmed Mehboob Ahmed Sheikh, a visually impaired man, on June 8 in Vadodara.
According to officials, Jat befriended Sheikh during a train journey with the intention of robbing him. After luring him to an isolated area, a scuffle broke out, and Jat strangled him with a chain before stealing his phone and money. The murder case had been registered at Vadodara’s Dabhoi police station based on a complaint by Sheikh’s father.
A Grisly Pattern of Crimes
Jat’s confessions paint a horrifying picture of his criminal trail:
- October 17-21: Rape and murder of a woman on a Kanyakumari-bound train near Solapur, Maharashtra.
- October 25: Strangulation of a passenger in a disabled train compartment in Karnataka.
- November 19: Stabbing of an elderly man on the Katihar Express near Howrah station, West Bengal.
- November 24: Robbery and murder of a woman on a train near Secunderabad railway station.
Jat’s modus operandi involved targeting vulnerable passengers during train journeys, making it difficult for authorities to trace his crimes.
Police investigations have revealed Jat’s long history of criminal activity. He has been involved in theft and smuggling since childhood, with over a dozen cases registered against him in Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. He was previously jailed in 2018-19 and again in 2024 for truck theft and illegal arms smuggling.
Jat, who studied up to Class 5, had a troubled upbringing, leading his family to sever ties with him due to his repeated involvement in criminal activities.
Jat remains in police custody until December 5, with authorities suspecting he may confess to more murders. “We still have a few days until his remand is over. There is a possibility that he will confess to more murders. Since most of his targets were in trains, it is getting a little difficult to gather all the required information,” said Valsad SP Karanraj Singh.
This chilling case has underscored the challenges of tracking crimes committed on moving trains and highlights the need for enhanced security measures on India’s railways.
Also Read: Cyclone Fengal’s Impact Intensifies in Tamil Nadu and Beyond
