Lucknow: A failed romance allegedly took a bizarre turn when a jilted lover decided to settle scores not with his former girlfriend by planting bomb threats and pasting communally provocative messages aboard a passenger train. The youth’s attempt backfired and landed him in GRP custody on Friday.The accused, Mohammad Shariq (28), a resident of Ayodhya, allegedly pasted handwritten communal messages and threats to blow up the Banaras-Lucknow Intercity Express at Charbagh railway station on Nov 11.According to GRP, the notes were found pasted behind mirrors and near toilet windows in two general coaches of train number 14225/14226. The train was stationed at platform 8 when the incident came to light.Shariq told GRP personnel that he was upset after his girlfriend ended the relationship and wanted to take revenge on her.Police said the notes contained objectionable religious and communal remarks, along with threats of an explosion aboard the train.Following the discovery of the notes, GRP registered an FIR against an unidentified person under Sections 196(1) and 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, dealing with acts promoting enmity between groups and deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings.Acting on directions from senior railway police officials, three teams comprising personnel from GRP Charbagh, Shahjahanpur, Ayodhya and Akbarpur, along with surveillance officials, were constituted to trace the suspect.Police said the investigation led to Shariq’s arrest on Friday near a broken bridge in Sevagram Colony near Charbagh railway station.According to GRP, Shariq had no previous criminal record. He was later sent into judicial custody.DGP Rajeev Krishna has announced a reward of Rs 25,000 for the police team involved in solving the case.
