‘Felt humiliated after being told to shut it’: How row over door turned deadly in Mumbai local; passenger stabbed in abdomen

MUMBAI: A 21-year-old clothing store staffer returning home during heavy rain was stabbed to death by a 30-year-old co-passenger following an argument over keeping the door closed in a first class coach of a Churchgate-Nalasopara train Tuesday night.Police sources said Roshan Suvarna of Mira-Bhayander felt humiliated after being told off for opening the door and pulled out a large knife from a bag and stabbed Virar resident Mayank Lohar in the chest and abdomen repeatedly as others looked on in terror.

He was caught in Panvel while allegedly planning an escape to his hometown in Karnataka.When the two men — they were standing near the door —had an argument, they were separated by co-passengers, but the suspect went after Lohar.

A video recorded by a passenger showed him brandishing the knife after the killing and threatening onlookers.GRP scanned 400 cameras, tracked killer to PanvelPolice said Suvarna, who makes barcodes for an organisation, had had a squabble with an auto driver earlier and are probing whether he was drunk.

The knife is yet to be recovered.

He told police he bought it online for a friend.

So far, police have not come across any prior case against him.The murder came five months after a junior college teacher was stabbed by a co-traveller in a local following a dispute over alighting at Malad.

Police said both Lohar and Suvarna boarded the train at Andheri station at 10.42pm.

They stood near one of the doors, which were kept shut to keep the rain out.

Suvarna reportedly opened the door and rainwater splashed a few passengers seated inside.

Lohar shut it again, which allegedly triggered an argument between him and Suvarna.Police suspect Suvarna felt humiliated after being manhandled and blamed Lohar for it.

When the train was between Goregaon and Malad stations, he took a large knife out of his bag and stabbed Lohar in the chest and the abdomen three to four times.

Lohar was caked in blood and lost consciousness.

As the train neared Borivli station, Suvarna hopped off.Police arrived within minutes and Lohar was moved to a hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead around midnight.

Borivli GRP’s seven teams looked for Suvarna and scoured through footage from 400 cameras.

Cameras had captured him taking an auto for his home. “He did not speak to anyone about the incident and intended to flee to his hometown in Karnataka.

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