A Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) was suspended on Thursday after he abused and slapped a passenger onboard the Barauni-Lucknow Express for not having a ticket.
As per railway officials, the incident occurred on Thursday when the train was travelling between Uttar Pradesh's Gonda and Barabanki. An inquiry has been initiated against the TTE.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw posted on X, formerly Twitter, “Zero tolerance for such misconduct, TTE has been suspended.”
The Indian Railways told ANI, “A video surfaces on social media of TTE on Barauni-Lucknow express slapping a passenger. The concerned TTE has been suspended by the competent authority and an inquiry has been initiated against the concerned.”
Lucknow Division Public Relations Officer (PRO) told PTI, “We came to know that a Deputy Chief Ticket Inspector (DCTI) named Prakash assaulted a passenger, possibly because he was having an irregular ticket. He was not authorised to travel in that particular class with the ticket that he had purchased. However, we have taken a very strong note of his act and suspended him immediately. We have constituted an inquiry and will take strictest action against him”
{{/usCountry}}Lucknow Division Public Relations Officer (PRO) told PTI, “We came to know that a Deputy Chief Ticket Inspector (DCTI) named Prakash assaulted a passenger, possibly because he was having an irregular ticket. He was not authorised to travel in that particular class with the ticket that he had purchased. However, we have taken a very strong note of his act and suspended him immediately. We have constituted an inquiry and will take strictest action against him”
{{/usCountry}}In a viral video, Prakash was seen continuously slapping the passenger. He is also seen grabbing the passenger by the neck. He is seen trying to attack another passenger trying to make a video of the incident.
In another video, Prakash is seen hurling abuses on the passenger making a video. He is heard abusing the passenger and asking, “Media se ho?”
Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Lucknow Division of North Eastern Railway, in whose jurisdiction the incident took place, posted on X, “The concerned TTE has been suspended by the competent authority and an inquiry has been initiated.”
Posting the video on X, Rajya Sabha MP and former Delhi Commission of Women chief Swati Maliwal said, “No matter how much we celebrate Vande Bharat, India's railways will improve only when the poor people of the country can travel comfortably and with dignity. Blood boils watching this video. Honorable Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw please take cognizance of the matter and take strict action against this TC. Train Number – 15203.”