Man pushed to death for boarding women-only train

Kolkata: A forty-year-old man died after he was allegedly pushed off a running train by a woman constable of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) for boarding a women-only train, triggering a massive protests and rail blockade by fellow commuters.

The victim, identified as Dipak Sharma, a resident of Dwarik Jungle Road in Bhadrakali, was travelling in a local train for “women only”, said Railway police officers. As news of the death spread, angry commuters beat up the constable and blocked trains in protest. They also targeted two other trains and pelted stones, smashing window panes and damaging coaches.

“An inquiry has been ordered into the incident. If she is found guilty, stringent action will be taken as per law,” R N Mahapatra Chief Public Relations Officer of Eastern Railway said.

However, the situation turned political when local councillor Dilip Yadav reached a suburban railway station and again started agitating by blocking the tracks. “Dipak was an employee of a private firm in Kolkata and was travelling along with his wife. They have a son. If he had done anything wrong or was travelling unauthorised in a ladies’ coach, the RPF constable could have arrested him. Why did she push him off a running train?” asked Yadav.

Other male commuters also protested against the behaviour of RPF officials towards men boarding the ladies train or compartment by mistake. “At times you are forced to or else you will miss the train and get late for work. But most of the passengers do not have the intention of boarding a ladies compartment willingly. But should a man be murdered for that,” said Subrata Das, a regular commuter.

However, women passengers complained that men often enter the compartments intentionally or even board trains reserved for women and misbehave with them. “I am personally not aware of the instance, but men board these trains and are often seen misbehaving with co-passengers,” said Shila Deb, another commuter.

In August, a gender battle ensued on the state’s railway tracks, as women clashed with men on several occasions to claim that male passengers cannot enter trains reserved for women. The male passengers resorted to train blockade alleging that a couple of men were pushed out of the train. Later, railway officials had marked three coaches as ‘general’ for male passengers.