Two robberies on running trains within 24 hours have given credence to the people's perception that rail journey is not safe in Bihar.

Armed criminals looted cash and property worth over Rs 20 lakh from the passengers of Patna-Hatia Patliputra Express (18621) after detaining the train for more than an hour near Lahban railway station between Simultala and Jasidih in Danapur rail division late on Saturday night. A day earlier, the people travelling on Samastipur-Madhepura Passenger had to bear the brunt of robbers. Police are yet to make any breakthrough in either of the cases.

The passengers of Patliputra Express told police that the armed criminals boarded the Ranchi-bound train at Simultala in the Jhajha-Asansol rail section around 9.15pm on Saturday. They first struck in general compartments, followed by three second-class sleeper and two AC coaches.

The dacoits stopped the train at the outer signal of Lahban railway station in Jamalpur rail district and smashed the windowpanes of two air-conditioned coaches and robbed the passengers. Women passengers had to part with their gold ornaments.

The train remained stranded on the spot for an hour and reassumed its onward journey around 10.35pm. The passengers vociferously protested against the dacoity after the train reached Jasidih railway station around 11pm.

Narrating the incident, AC three-tier passenger Jaishankar said the dacoits were talking in local dialect. He said a few passengers were brutally assaulted when they resisted the criminals. Women were the soft targets of the robbers. 'The passengers were left at the mercy of the dacoits as no policeman was seen in any compartment,' he said.

Jamalpur superintendent of police (SP) Umashankar Prasad said an FIR had been lodged with the Jhajha Government Railway Police (GRP) on the statement of the victims. 'An operation has been launched on the borders of Bihar and Jharkhand to nab the criminals,' he said.

The SP claimed an unarmed police team was escorting the train. 'We have decided not to send any armed escort on trains to prevent Maoists from snatching their arms. Several such incidents have taken place in the past on the Jhajha-Jasidih route,' he said.

Late on Friday night, armed criminals looted cash and valuables from the passengers of Samastipur-Madhepura in Samastipur rail division. A 19-year-old youth, identified as Bhim Kumar, was shot at when he resisted the dacoity attempt at Koparia station in Katihar rail district. Kumar was later admitted to Saharsa railway hospital for treatment. The value of the property looted by the criminals is yet to be assessed.

Katihar rail SP Ravish Kumar said four policemen, who were part of the escort team, had been put under suspension for dereliction of duty. A case had been lodged against five persons, he added.

Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi assailed the state government for its failure to check crime on wheels. 'The passengers are frightened following frequent attacks on the trains passing through the state. It is high time the state police initiated steps to curb such incidents,' the former deputy chief minister said.