Mumbai: A junior college teacher was stabbed to death over an argument about alighting from a crowded local train at Malad station Saturday evening. Police said the victim, Alok Singh, 33, was stabbed in the stomach with a sharp object by an unidentified co-traveller and a hunt is underway for him.A math and statistics teacher at the Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics, Singh boarded a Borivli-bound local from Vile Parle Saturday. When the train reached Malad at around 6.30pm, he wanted to alight but an argument broke out between him and the accused co-passenger over it. It was sudden. The accused stabbed him with a sharp object in the stomach, got off the train and fled in the crowd,” a police official said.Singh was rushed to the Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital in Kandivli, where the doctors pronounced him dead. Police officials informed his family and superiors at the college.One of the teachers at the college said Singh used to teach mathematics and statistics in the junior college section since 2024. “He was a very kind soul, very calm and polite and never got involved in any kind of arguments or fights. In fact, he used to help resolve fights. This is absolutely shocking for us,” said the teacher, adding that Singh had left college on Friday evening at around 5.15-5.30pm.“We have witnesses from the train compartment who saw the accused and overheard the argument on the day of the incident. We are quizzing them and recording their statements. CCTV footage from Malad and previous railway stations is being scanned for leads,” said a police official.A relative of the victim said he was a simple guy and we have never seen him get angry. “He got married only a couple of years ago and lived in Malad East with his wife. His father worked for BJP leader Rajnath Singh. His uncle was also a teacher. We are aghast at what has happened and want police to track down the culprit at the earliest.” Local BJP leaders started to visit the hospital late in the night.Police said Singh sustained a single deep injury in the abdomen. Investigators are trying to ascertain the weapon used in the crime. “The patient was brought dead around 6pm. He had knife injuries,” said doctors at the hospital.Late on Saturday, forensic experts collected evidence from Malad station. The canine squad was also brought in. Commuter activist Subhash Gupta said that the common public travelling on the Railways cannot afford AC local fares and Metro fares and as a result, non-AC locals continue to remain crowded.The Borivali GRP has registered a case of murder against an unknown individual under provisions of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita. Police brought a suspect for inquiry.
