Mastermind of 400 thefts hides underwater for 5 hours:Used lotus stalk to breathe, escaped after snatching woman’s purse from AC coach

On Tuesday evening in Jabalpur, a dramatic chase unfolded between police and an audacious interstate thief. To escape capture, the accused, later identified as Harvinder Singh, jumped into a moss-filled pond near Khitola station and remained submerged for around five hours, breathing through a lotus stalk. He was finally apprehended with the help of divers. The drama began aboard the Rewa-Itwari train when the thief attempted to snatch a woman’s purse in the AC coach. RPF (Railway Protection Force) personnel noticed him, and as the train slowed near Sihora station, the accused jumped to flee. In his escape, he dived into a deep, algae-covered pond in Khitola. The darkness and dense moss made it impossible for the police to track him visually. Completely submerged, survived using Lotus Stalk When Khitaula police and divers arrived at the scene, they discovered the thief was completely underwater. Harvinder Singh had submerged himself fully, drawing oxygen through a lotus stem like a snorkel. After approximately five hours of careful effort, the divers located him hidden amidst the moss. Old photograph reveals true identity After his arrest, Harvinder Singh misled the police with the name ‘Bablu’ and claimed he was from Chandigarh. However, RPF Station Incharge Rajiv Kharb recalled a photo of a wanted thief from 2018. As soon as he addressed the suspect by his old alias “Sunny,” Singh revealed his real identity. Past crimes and political background Investigations revealed that 32-year-old Harvinder Singh, a resident of Bijnor, UP, has committed over 400 thefts nationwide. In 2017, he served as an independent ward councillor in Haldaur Nagar Nikay, Bijnor. In 2018, authorities recovered diamonds and jewellery worth ₹70 lakh from him. He had also stolen a passenger’s licensed pistol and cash from the ‘Avantika Express.’ He often targeted AC coaches and avoided ticket checks by hiding in train bathrooms. Nationwide manhunt Cases against Harvinder Singh are registered in several states, including Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Mumbai. He habitually changed SIM cards after committing crimes and travelled without identification. The Jabalpur police and RPF are currently questioning him about additional incidents.