Laborer's Leg Severed in Robbery: Police Negligence Leaves Limb Behind for 12 Hours

Officials claimed the man was not robbed but failed to explain why the severed leg was abandoned at the scene.

In a horrific incident on Wednesday in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, a laborer had his leg severed after four assailants allegedly robbed him of Rs 500 and held his leg on railway tracks until a train ran over it. After losing consciousness, the victim reports that Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel arrived hours later and transported him to a hospital, but ignored his pleas to retrieve his severed limb.

It wasn't until the following morning when the victim managed to persuade different officers that his severed leg remained near the tracks. By the time it was recovered, over 12 hours had passed, eliminating any possibility of reattachment surgery.

When questioned about the incident, senior GRP officials denied any robbery occurred but provided no explanation for abandoning the severed limb or the significant delay in retrieving it.

Speaking from his hospital bed at Ujjain's Charak hospital, Lakha, who resides in Palduna village, recounted the traumatic experience: "I work as a labourer near the station. Around 8 pm, I was returning to Dewas Gate after buying food when four men stopped me, beat me and robbed me of Rs 500... When I opened my eyes, one leg was gone and the other was bleeding. I shouted, but no one came. The police came after two hours and put me in an ambulance. I begged them to take my leg too, but they didn't listen."

Lakhan was admitted to the hospital and only when he spoke with different GRP personnel on Thursday morning about his severed leg did an assistant sub-inspector finally retrieve the limb, bringing it back in a plastic bag.

GRP officials reportedly delayed filing a case, insisting no robbery had occurred and stating they would only proceed after speaking with Lakhan's sister. When questioned about the delayed recovery of the severed leg and potential downplaying of the crime, a GRP officer declined to respond.

When reporters pressed GRP Superintendent of Police Padmavilochan Shukla regarding the incident and potential negligence, he simply stated, "Provide proof, and we will take action."