Railway police opened 10 rounds of fire on a group of suspected thieves who were allegedly attempting to tamper with railway signals near Nidubrolu railway station in Ponnur mandal of Guntur district early morning on Tuesday. No casualties were reported in the incident.

According to the police, four rounds were fired from the pistol of a Sub-Inspector and six rounds from .303 rifles carried by two police constables after the suspects allegedly attacked the police team with stones during a patrolling operation.

Speaking to The Hindu on Tuesday, Railways Deputy Inspector General of Police B. Satya Yesubabu said the suspects were not train passengers but belonged to a gang that deliberately tampered with railway signals, particularly home signals located just outside railway stations, to halt trains and commit robberies.

“They do not board trains. Instead, they tamper with signals, forcing trains to stop so they can target passengers, especially women wearing gold ornaments,” Mr. Yesubabu said.

He said special railway police teams deployed for routine night patrolling noticed suspicious activity on the tracks near Nidubrolu station. When the police warned the suspects to stop damaging the signalling system, the accused allegedly retaliated by pelting stones from the railway track.

With the situation escalating, the police opened fire in self-defence and to prevent further damage to railway infrastructure, he said.

Mr. Yesubabu said railway authorities had strengthened night surveillance following similar incidents reported in the past. More than 60 special teams had been deployed across the State to guard railway tracks round-the-clock, equipped with firearms and adequate ammunition.

He said experienced offenders often tampered with home signals, causing them to display a red indication, which forced loco pilots to stop trains before entering stations, creating an opportunity for theft and robbery.

Following the firing, the suspects fled the scene. The police recovered wire cutters abandoned near the track, suggesting preparations for signal tampering. Officials suspect more individuals may have been involved and were hiding nearby during the incident. A search operation is under way and a case is being registered, the police added.