Cuttack: Safety of women has again come under scanner after a girl student was allegedly molested on a moving train in Odisha. The victim, a law student was travelling to Kharagpur from Cuttack railway station in Jan Shatabdi Express on March 25 when a middle-aged man tried to touch her ‘inappropriately.’
As per sources, the incident occurred between Bhadrak and Balasore stations when the girl travelling in D-3 coach of the train was misbehaved with by her co-passenger.
Surprisingly, the concerned train ticket examiner (TTE) did not take any action even though the matter was brought to his notice, the victim alleged.
Narrating the ordeal to OTV over phone, the girl student expressed her dissatisfaction over the approach and attitude of the concerned TTE who failed to provide security to her.
“One can easily imagine the security inside trains as the incident happened during the journey which was less than 4 hours. The man tried to touch me inappropriately and it was only after I raised an alarm, other passengers came to know about the incident,” said the victim.
The victim further stated that the TTE instead of taking action changed her seat and assured that such kind of harassment will not reoccur till the end of her journey.
Sources said it was only after the girl student called up her father and briefed him about the incident, officials of the Railway Protection Force came to her rescue.
“As my father had some contacts, police swung into action. But one can easily imagine what could have happened in case of a normal girl,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Railway authorities too have swung into action after the sister of the girl took to Twitter seeking help of the concerned officials in connection with the incident.
The victim’s family has also appealed the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) for stern action against the TTE for taking such incidents especially against women passengers lightly.
Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Khurda as well as RPF, Kharagpur have started an inquiry into the incident.
“The authorities have assured me of appropriate action in connection with the incident in a couple of day’s time.
However, if no action is taken, I will bring the matter to the notice of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” the victim added.
“We are investigating the matter and appropriate action would be taken if our staff would be found guilty,” said Khurda ADRM, SP Diwedi.
It is not for the first time that a woman passenger has been harassed and misbehaved by co-passenger while travelling in trains.
Earlier, a girl faced similar harassment by a co-passenger who tried to grope her in Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express in March 2017.
The victim narrated her ordeal on social media. The accused 50-year-old man was arrested after the girl’s friend sought help from the then Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Twitter.
In February 2018, a girl from Odisha travelling to Mumbai in Konark Express train was also harassed by a youth.