A day after a minor girl was pushed out of running train allegedly by a female TTE for travelling without ticket, the railway authorities continue to be on denial mode. Besides feigning ignorance about identity of the TTE, they have termed the incident as an accident.
Apparently, this is not the first time that a ticketless traveller has been subjected to unruly conduct of the TTEs or GRP personnel. Thirteen-year-old Shankar Singh, a resident of Vedvyas slum in Rourkela lost his right hand and a leg after he was pushed off the Mumbai-Howrah Geetanjali Express on July 2, 2008 by a TTE.
Three months later, a 20-year-old vegetable vendor died after he was allegedly pushed off a running train by GRP personnel and succumbed to his injuries as they failed to extort `150 from him.
According to sources, TTEs seem to go on an overdrive during Odia month of Shravan when hundreds of people take train journey from interior parts of the district to the city to visit Shiva temples.
If found without ticket, the passengers are pulled up and hefty amount of fine demanded. However, the matter is resolved if the passengers shell out money to the TTEs without a proper receipt being issued.
In Monday’s incident, a female TTE identified as B Naik pushed 17-year-old Rekha Naik from Howrah-Jagdalpur Samaleswari Express near Sambalpur Road railway station.
The Sambalpur Railway Division feigned ignorance about identity of the female TTE and termed the incident as an accident. On the other hand, the GRP has registered a case against “unknown” person under Sections 341, 325 and 323 IPC over the incident.
Meanwhile, the girl has been shifted to SCB Medical at Cuttack.
