Indian authorities have launched an investigation into the death of a Nigerian national who collapsed and died after being detained and questioned at a railway station in Surat, Gujarat.
The Government Railway Police (GRP) commenced the inquiry on Wednesday after the man died in circumstances authorities described as suspicious.
The deceased, whose identity has not been released, was travelling from Mumbai to Delhi aboard the Golden Temple Express when he was detained at Surat Railway Station following an alleged altercation with another passenger.
According to police, the incident occurred while the train was travelling between Vapi and Surat in Gujarat’s Valsad district.
Authorities said a passenger contacted the railway helpline, 139, on August 17 to report an alleged fight between the Nigerian and another passenger over space near one of the train’s doors.
Police sources further alleged that the Nigerian sprayed a fire extinguisher at passengers during the confrontation.
He was detained when the train arrived at Surat and taken to the Railway Protection Force (RPF) office for questioning.
Police said the man later collapsed at the station and was rushed to the Surat Municipal Institute of Medical Education and Research (SMIMER) Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.
The Surat GRP has registered a case of accidental death and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
A postmortem examination was conducted on August 18, but the report had not been released as of Wednesday evening.
Western Railway Superintendent of Police Abhay Soni said preliminary investigations established that the deceased was a Nigerian national who resided in Vasai, Mumbai.
Soni said the man was not carrying any identification documents when he was detained. He added that police records showed he had previously been arrested in Mumbai in connection with two alleged cocaine trafficking cases registered at Malwani and Malad police stations in 2018.
The police are also investigating the purpose of the man’s journey to Delhi. According to Soni, he had boarded the Golden Temple Express at Borivali in Mumbai.
Authorities said statements would be obtained from the officers who detained the Nigerian as well as personnel who were present at the RPF office when he collapsed.
“We have started an inquiry. Statements from the police officials who caught him and those present at the police station will be taken. We are also waiting for the autopsy report,” Soni said.
The custodial death investigation is being led by Deputy Superintendent of Police D.H. Gaur.
The inquiry is expected to determine what happened between the Nigerian’s detention at Surat Railway Station and his subsequent collapse, as authorities await the autopsy findings.
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