The police have launched a probe after a piece of rail was found on the railway track near Kayamkulam. Officials said a piece of old rail, one metre long and weighing 80 kg, was first noticed by a keyman during track inspection on Saturday morning.

This is the third time in the last two months that materials were found on the railway track near the Kayamkulam railway station.

On March 24, copper cables were found on the track. Two months ago, a signal box was placed on the track.

However, officials said that the latest incident was unlikely to be a sabotage attempt. “We suspect a theft attempt. A few rag pickers have been questioned in connection with the incident and a detailed probe is on,” said a police officer. The Railway police have also launched an investigation.

K.C. Venugopal, MP, has urged the Ministry of Railways to conduct a detailed probe into the alleged sabotage attempts.