July 6: Passengers on an allegedly unguarded Mumbai-Asansol Express were robbed and beaten up by an armed gang while the train was passing through Bihar last night.

The passengers said the group of 15 to 17 robbers, armed with revolvers and daggers, had boarded the train at Kiul, about 220km east of Patna, around 9.45pm. The gang split up into two groups and boarded the S9 and S10 sleeper coaches. Sources said around Rs 2.15 lakh and other valuables were looted from 130 passengers.

Government Railway Police, Jhajha, are yet to find out the whereabouts of the criminals.