Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jan 9: In an ugly incident which occurred at Mulki railway station near here on the night of Sunday January 8, unidentified passengers threw stones at the station apart from engaging in heated arguments with the station master. In this incident, a girl was injured.

Two trains had arrived at Mulky together from the same direction. Therefore, the Madgaon train was stopped far away from the platform. The passengers of this train got angry as they found it difficult to safely escort aged people and young children out of the station by walking long distance over the tracks. A few passengers then pelted stones at the railway station.

One of these stones hit the roof of the station. A piece of the cement sheet of the roof came off and fell on the girl who was sitting inside the station. The injured girl, identified as Bhoomika (9) from Bappanadu near Mulki, was provided treatment. This incident angered passengers numbering around 40, who got into verbal duel with the station master, Kulashekara.

A group of 48 persons from around Mulki and Bappanadu had undertaken trip to Murudeshwar together. They came back by Madgaon train bound for the city. Their train was stopped on the second platform, and about 80 persons including the said group on alighting from the train, faced problem in crossing over to the first platform to reach their homes. Many of the group members were aged, and some of them including Lata from Kolachikambla near Mulky reportedly suffered injuries during this process because of dark conditions and difficult terrain.

The passengers then questioned the station master about diverting the train to second platform. It is learnt that a few persons who were crossing the railway track to reach the first platform threw stones at the railway station. Mulki police and local town panchayat president,Sunil Alva, rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.