Patna: The recovery of two bodies at Kathpul has once again proved how the area between Patna Junction and Rajendra Nagar Terminus is a haven for train robbers and criminals.

In 2006, retired Bihar DIG Anil Kumar Singh was shot dead in a second-class AC coach of the running Rajendra Nagar-Kurla Super Fast Express near Kathpul. The killers also robbed the other passengers of their cash and valuables.

The criminals had had a quarrel duel with Singh and later fired at him point-blank. The daylight murder in an AC coach - considered a safe option - had made headlines for days at a time the RJD chief was the railway minister.

Sources said Lalu Prasad had expressed shock and anguish over the incident and had directed railway officials to ensure foolproof security for passengers on running trains. The railway police and Patna police constituted a special investigation team to nab the killers, and the SIT arrested around six persons in 2014.

A police patrol team was also formed but with time patrolling become irregular. A Government Railway Police officer said: "Kathpul, the name, comes from a wooden or steel bridge connecting the northern side of the tracks to the southern side. As the area comes between Patna Junction and Rajendra Nagar, maximum chain-pulling cases is reported from the area as many passengers do it to alight from trains. They hop down in the Kathpul area to catch buses and autos and many of them are robbed there."

Sources said six months ago, railway police recovered a body near the Kathpul tracks. The police had claimed it was a train accident but sources said the body had injury marks.

The attack on Tuesday and the murder of two persons have reminded many of the old days when passengers alighting from trains or going to Patna Junction were attacked by criminals in the area.

Patna GRP have decided to strengthen security in the area. Superintendent of railway police Ashok Kumar Singh said: "The police have decided to set up a temporary police picket and personnel will be deputed round the clock. Patrolling will also be intensified in the area between Patna Junction and Rajendra Nagar terminus."