India, Nov. 3 -- In a planned robbery, two unidentified persons allegedly tampered with a railway signal by cutting its wire to halt the Mahalaxmi Express between Lonand and Salpa railway stations in Satara district early on Sunday. The robbers then snatched mangalsutras from two women passengers through the window of the S1 coach before fleeing.

The incident took place around 2:30 am, when the Mumbai CSMT-Kolhapur Mahalaxmi Express stopped for around 10-12 minutes after crossing Lonand station. Following standard procedure, Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel got down from the train, blew whistles and used torches to check the surroundings.

During the halt, railway staff learnt that the signal had been tampered with and two to thr...