Passenger falls from train after altercation with railway staff, dies; co-passengers create ruckus

Mahoba (UP): A passenger died after falling from an express train under suspicious circumstances on the Jhansi-Manikpur section of the North Central Railway in Mahoba district here in Uttar Pradesh, Railway sources said on Tuesday.

Railway sources said that the passengers travelling in the train created a ruckus accusing the railway police squad of pushing the passenger to death over illegal extortion. "After the ruckus that continued for about two hours, the senior officials pacified the passengers by assuring investigation and action in the case and sent the train to its destination," they said.

Railway sources said that the incident took place late on Monday night between Harpalpur and Ghutai stations in Mahakoshal Express going from Hazrat Nizamuddin to Jabalpur. "It has been said that during ticket checking by the TC with the police escort in the reserved bogie, a dispute arose when a passenger was caught without a ticket," they said.

Railway sources said that it has been alleged that during a tussle with the police personnel, the passenger fell from the gate of the moving train. "Seeing this incident, other passengers in the bogie got agitated. They created a ruckus and tried to pull the chain to stop the train. It is alleged that due to the railway staff and police, were not successful in stopping the train," they said.

Government Railway Police (GRP) said that when the train stopped at Mahoba Junction, the railway passengers got down from the train and created a ruckus in the station. "Holding the TC and the police squad personnel responsible for the death of the concerned passenger, they demanded strict legal action against them," they said.

On receiving the information of the incident, the top officials of the district immediately reached the spot and pacified the passengers by explaining to them, and sent the train further to its destination. The deceased could not be identified immediately.

Deputy Superintendent of Police of GRP Jhansi, Naeem Khan Mansoori, who reached Mahoba, said that the allegations against the railway police regarding the death of the passenger have been taken seriously. "The incident is being investigated intensively," he said.