Patna, Jan. 22: Armed dacoits looted cash and valuables worth Rs 1 lakh from the passengers of the Patna-Azeemabad Express early this morning.

The incident took place between Chausa and Bhadaura railway stations under Danapur railway division of the East Central Railway around 3.15am. The train, did not have any police escort party at the time of the incident.

Reports said about a dozen criminals entered S-11 coach of the train at Buxar railway station and went on a looting spree. They collected cash, jewellery, mobile phones and other costly articles at pistol point. They assaulted four passengers when they resisted their loot attempt.

The passengers reported the matter to the Government Railway Police (GRP) when the train reached Mughalsarai railway junction. Subsequently, the victims lodged an FIR.

Superintendent of rail police (Patna) Suresh Prasad Choudhary said the train was escorted by an escort party of the GRP till Buxar railway station. Thereafter, the train left for Mughalsarai unescorted.

The officials posted at the Mughalsarai GRP, however, said the robbers looted the passengers at Buxar railway station and managed to escape after pulling the emergency chain somewhere between Chausa and Mughalsarai railway stations.

“We have registered a case against 10-12 men. Some of them even had firearms,” Tripurari Pandey GRP inspector posted at Mughalsarai railway station told The Telegraph over phone.

“We are yet to ascertain the exact amount of cash and other valuables looted,” Pandey said. The victims told the police the robbers primarily targeted two sleeper coaches — S-11 and S-9.

Preliminary investigations have revealed the robbers entered the train near Chausa railway station in Bihar. “Though the robbers assaulted a number of passengers, most of them were the ones who resisted. None of them received any serious injuries,” Pandey added.

The train was heading to Ahmedabad from Patna.