MUMBAI – People across India woke up to tragedy on August 23, as news spread of a child’s body being found inside a dustbin in the toilet of the Kushinagar Express at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in the early morning hours.
Cleaning staff were preparing the train for its next departure as the Kashi Express stumbled upon the lifeless body in AC coach B2 as they went about their usual routine. The shocking discovery has led to widespread grief and renewed anger about the safety of children and the rise in abductions and violent crimes involving minors across India.
The Mumbai Government Railway Police (GRP) is investigating the case, which initial evidence suggests may involve kidnapping and murder linked to a family dispute.
The Kushinagar Express had just completed its journey from Gorakhpur, pulling into platform 4 around 1 am. While the train was being cleaned, a staff member found a young child, about five years old, squeezed into a dustbin in the lavatory. The horror of the discovery immediately drew panic from the remaining passengers and crew, spreading rapidly through the station and across the city.
After the cleaning team raised the alarm, the LTT station master quickly called in the Railway Protection Force and Mumbai GRP. The body was carefully removed and taken for post-mortem examination at Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar East.
Early police reports mentioned marks on the child’s neck, raising strong suspicions of a violent death, most likely with the throat cut. The brutality of the case has left officials and the public distraught, and questions are being raised about security in train carriages that are usually seen as safe.
Mumbai Police Focus on Family Ties
Mumbai’s GRP, together with forensic experts, has launched a full investigation to find out exactly what happened. Initial findings indicate the child was abducted in Surat, Gujarat, before being killed and left in the train’s toilet.
The child’s mother filed a report at Amroli Police Station in Surat on 21 August, blaming a cousin, 25-year-old Vikash Shah, for kidnapping her child. This suspected family link has complicated the investigation, with police looking closely at a personal dispute as a possible motive.
Railway Commissioner Rakesh Kala Sagar confirmed that the case is being treated as both kidnapping and murder. He stated, “We received a missing child complaint from Surat two days before the body was found. It looks like a family conflict might have led to this horrible act.
We are checking CCTV footage from the train and the station, and forensic evidence is under review to help find the person responsible.” As of this report, the suspect, Vikash Shah, remains on the run, but police have said they are confident he will be caught soon. Detectives from Surat have also visited Mumbai to help confirm the child’s identity.
Investigators from the Mumbai GRP are interviewing passengers and railway staff who were on the coach or at the station at the time. Forensic teams are examining the crime scene in detail for any further evidence. A big part of the inquiry is focused on how someone managed to carry out this act and access the AC coach without attracting attention, bringing up serious questions about train security procedures.
Family’s Pain and Call for Justice
The child’s family is suffering an unimaginable loss. The mother, whose name is being kept private, is said to be in deep shock. Family friends revealed she had been desperately searching for her child ever since the disappearance in Surat, holding out hope for a safe return. Filing charges against her own cousin was a desperate act, but she now faces a bitter reality.
In a statement given through a family representative, the mother expressed her pain: “My child meant everything to me. I trusted my own family, but now I feel completely betrayed. I want justice for my son and punishment for whoever did this.”
The family is demanding a thorough investigation and quick action, pressing the authorities to make sure no other family suffers like they have. Support has poured in from the community in both Surat and Mumbai, with neighbours and local leaders standing with the bereaved mother and calling for stronger protection measures for children.
Incidents like this have put the spotlight once again on the frightening number of child abductions and murders in India. According to recent figures from the National Crime Records Bureau, over 100,000 children go missing every year, much of it linked to kidnapping, trafficking or violent crime.
Kidnapping and Child Abduction
In 2023, there were 63,000 reported cases of kidnapping and abduction involving children. A significant number of these cases stem from family disputes or criminal enterprises, including trafficking and illegal adoption.
Other recent incidents show how pressing the problem is. In July 2025, a six-year-old girl was kidnapped from her school in Delhi and later found dead. In Uttar Pradesh, a four-year-old boy was abducted and killed due to a disagreement over family property. These cases, along with the event on the Kushinagar Express, reflect an alarming pattern where children are caught up in bitter personal conflicts or targeted by criminals.
Experts blame a mix of social inequality, poor enforcement of child protection laws, and a lack of awareness for the rise in these crimes. Dr Anjali Gupta, a child safety advocate, highlighted the problem: “Stronger neighbourhood watch, better cooperation between police forces, and tougher punishments are needed. Parents also have to be alert to risks from within the family, as many kidnappings involve someone the child knows.”
Concerns have also been raised about safety on India’s trains, which millions of people rely on daily. The Kushinagar Express tragedy has led to fresh calls for stricter security, better use of CCTV, tighter entry requirements for AC coaches, and more frequent checks throughout journeys to prevent further loss of life.
Public Grief and the Demand for Change
The heartbreaking news from the Kushinagar Express has deeply affected Mumbai and the rest of the country. Social media, especially X, has been filled with grief and calls for action, with many demanding meaningful steps to protect children. Many posts describe the event as both heartbreaking and a warning sign, asking for major reforms to tackle child abductions and violence.
As police in Mumbai and Surat pursue the investigation, the country is watching and waiting. There is hope that what happened in coach B2 will push those in charge to make real changes. For now, the tragedy stands as a stark reminder of what is at stake when security fails. The memory of the young victim will weigh on the city for a long time to come.
The India Times extends heartfelt sympathies to the family affected and will keep following this story as it unfolds. For the latest updates, visit their website or follow them on social media.
