Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai (SP)

Mumbai, Dec 26: Railway Yatri Sangha Borivli Mumbai (western zone) and Railway Yatri Sangha (R) Udupi have strongly condemned the incident which occurred on Matsyagandha Express train at Ratnagiri station recently.

Miscreants had behaved rudely and attempted theft from the family of Ajit Kumar Shetty travelling by compartment bearing No S9 of the said train. The train in question was moving to Mangaluru from CST Kurla late night on Wednesday last.

Ajit Kumar had valid ticket in his possession, but another man, who was travelling ticketless, had occupied his seat. Ajit Kumar politely asked the man to vacate his seat, but the person started arguing and warned Shetty of dire consequences once the train reached Ratnagiri. Co-passengers were silent spectators to this development. At Ratnagiri, about 20 associates of the above person rushed into the train with lethal arms in hand and raised a din and commotion there. When the situation seemed to go out of hand, someone stopped the train by pulling the chain. The passengers did not allow the train to move ahead till the policemen came there, eyewitnesses stated.

President of Railway Yatri Sangha Borivili Mumbai, Shimantoor Uday Shetty, honorary president, Virar Shankar Shetty, general secretary, Sheela Shetty, and Railway Yatri Sangha (R) Udupi president, R L Dias and other office bearers have condemned the incident. Both the organizations have demanded for immediate arrest of all the culprits involved with this incident and initiating of action against the concerned. In a release the organizations have said that they have urged Konkan Railway authorities and the ministry of railways to ensure that such incidents do not recur in future. Children of Dias too were reportedly travelling by the same train to Udupi.

Uday Shetty, president of the Sangha, said that he has talked to Borivli constituency MP, Gopal C Shetty, about the incident, and he in turn, has promised to talk to railway minister, Suresh Prabhu, towards ensuring that suitable action is taken against the culprits. Uday Shetty has advised passengers travelling by trains on Konkan Railway route to stick to the seat number allotted to them, and get their tickets verified by the ticket collectors (TC) when they come for checking.

"Many a time, it is observed that passengers get seated somewhere else with relatives or friends without cooperating with the TCs, besides getting involved with activities like smoking, feasting, and doing things which are unbecoming of gentlemen. Such behaviour can come as blessing in disguise for rowdy elements like the above. If such behaviour is allowed to continue, a time may come in which miscreants may rob the entire train," Railway Yatri Sangha noted with concern. Shimantoor Uday Shetty has requested people not to allow such things to happen in trains.

President of National Billawa Federation, Jaya C Suvarna, Karnire Vishwanath Shetty, president of Buntara Sangha Mumbai, Billawara Association Mumbai president, Nityanand D Kotian, Bhandary Seva Sangha president Shekhar P Bhandary, Shaffi Welfare Association Mumbai president, B Mohidin Mundkur, Tiya Samaj Mumbai president Chandrashekhar R Belchada, Akhil Bharat Tulu Okkoota president, Dharmapal U Devadiga, Bombay Bunts Association president, U Shekhar Shetty, Billawara Jagruti Balaga president, N T Poojary, Rajaka Sangha Mumbai president, Satish R Salian, Bhandary Ferderation president, Kadandale Suresh Bhandary, leaders of several others organizations and institutions, Aikala Harish Shetty, Yermal Harish Shetty, Harish N Shetty Malad, Tonse Sanjeev Poojary, Suresh Shetty Yeyyadi and others have condemned this incident. All of them have urged the railway ministry to take serious action against the attackers.