A Nigerian national travelling from Mumbai to Delhi on the Golden Temple Express died after he was detained at Surat Railway Station by Railway Protection Force (RPF) officials. The incident occurred on August 17, 2026, when a fellow passenger called the railway helpline to report an altercation involving the Nigerian man near one of the train's gates. The Government Railway Police (GRP) registered a case of accidental death and opened an inquiry, with officers' statements and autopsy results still pending.
Details of the Incident on the Golden Temple Express
According to a report by The Indian Express published on August 20, a passenger called the national railway helpline, 139, to report a fight involving the Nigerian national near one of the train's gates as it moved between Vapi and Surat stations. Police sources said the man sprayed a fire extinguisher at co-passengers during the dispute. RPF officers pulled him off the train at Surat and took him to their office for questioning. He collapsed while in custody and was rushed to the Surat Municipal Institute of Medical Education and Research Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. The man's identity has not been released.
Police Inquiry and Autopsy Results Pending
The Surat Government Railway Police (GRP) registered the case as an accidental death. A post-mortem examination carried out on August 18 was still awaiting results as of Wednesday evening, according to the report. Western Railway Superintendent of Police Abhay Soni said early investigations pointed to the deceased being a Nigerian national who lived in Vasai, in Mumbai. "After primary investigations, it is believed that the deceased was a Nigerian national. When Surat RPF caught him, he didn't have any of his identity cards with him," Soni said. Soni added that the man had previously been arrested twice in Mumbai. The purpose of his journey to Delhi remained unclear, though police confirmed he boarded the train at Borivali in Mumbai.
Investigation Led by Deputy Superintendent of Police
Soni said investigators would gather statements from every officer present during the detention. "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," he said. Deputy Superintendent of Police D H Gaur is leading the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the man's death. The incident has drawn attention to the handling of foreign nationals in custody, though no official conclusion has been reached regarding the cause of death.
