On Delhi Metro, Woman Tried To Attack Another With An Axe

New Delhi: A 65-year-old woman sneaked an axe into the Delhi Metro and allegedly attacked a co-passenger during a tiff over a seat. The major security breach was reported at the Sultanpur Metro Station on the Yellow Line. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), responsible for the security on the Delhi Metro, has suspended the on-duty jawan for dereliction of duty. An inquiry into the incident has been ordered, official sources said. Police let the woman, identified as M Dutta, go after counselling.

The axe was reportedly detected during the X-ray scan of her bag by the CISF jawan when she entered the Hauz Khas Metro station. He then allegedly allowed Ms Dutta to carry the axe as it was small and she had pleaded that she is a poor labourer and uses the tool for minor work.

"While the axe was detected by the on-duty CISF personnel at the entry of the station itself, he probably considered her age while allowing her to take the axe. He probably also misjudged her plea to let her carry the axe saying she was a poor woman. An inquiry has been ordered," a senior official said.

Ms Dutta, a resident of Gurgaon, was travelling to Huda City Centre when she got into a quarrel with another woman over a seat in the women's compartment of the train. Enraged at being asked to sit somewhere else, she pulled out the axe and charged at the women. Fortunately, the other passengers in the coach managed to overpower Ms Dutta and seized the weapon, they said.

The woman was then handed over to the CISF who handed her over to police in Gurgaon. After counselling the cops allowed the woman to return to her home.

The CISF has taken the incident seriously and has sought to tighten security protocols in the metro network that carries almost 26 lakh people every day.

Last year, a man had entered the Delhi Metro with a country-made pistol and shot himself within the station premises. A few months back, another man had killed a woman with a sharp weapon, just before the security zone at a station in Gurgaon.

(With inputs from PTI)