AK-47 Found on Railway Track in Varanasi Sparks Panic; Weapon Later Traced to CRPF Jawan

Varanasi: Panic briefly gripped the Saraiya area under the Jaitpura police station limits in Varanasi after an AK-47 rifle was discovered lying near a railway track on Monday morning. The incident triggered a swift response from local police and senior officials, who immediately reached the spot and launched an investigation.

According to police officials, a local youth noticed the suspicious weapon lying beside the railway track and quickly informed the authorities. Upon reaching the location, the police were surprised to find that the rifle was an AK-47 with a magazine loaded with bullets, raising concerns about security in the area.

Senior police officers, including officials from the Kashi zone, along with personnel from the Railway Protection Force (RPF), inspected the site and secured the weapon. The discovery initially caused tension among residents, as the powerful assault rifle is considered a highly sensitive weapon.

During the investigation, it was revealed that the rifle belonged to a jawan of the Central Reserve Police Force. A CRPF contingent was reportedly travelling by train towards West Bengal for election duty, and the weapon is believed to have accidentally fallen from the train during the journey.

Police later contacted CRPF officials and learned that the train carrying the security personnel had halted at Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Junction. After verification and necessary formalities, the rifle was handed over to the CRPF commander concerned.

Although the weapon has been returned to the force, the incident has raised serious questions about security protocols and handling of sensitive arms during transit. Authorities have stated that a detailed inquiry is underway to determine how such a weapon could fall from a moving train without the personnel noticing.

Officials say further action will depend on the findings of the investigation.