People in wheelchairs placed on train tracks

It was a publicity stunt that put at risk nearly 30 people in wheelchairs.

They were seated on a train track as a form of protest by Shivaji Rao, a self-proclaimed activist, in Patna.

Rao wanted to raise awareness of Sunday's attack on a local train - dacoits targeted a coach reserved for the differently-abled. So, he asked the group to gather on the tracks. And then a train came hurtling towards them.

By this time, the local police had heard about the gathering, and arrived just as the train was approaching.

They moved the wheelchairs to safety. Ajay Kumar Singh, Inspector, Rajenrda Nagar, said, "There are many ways to protest, but this is not the right way. I shudder to think of how dangerous this was."

Rao, the organizer of the protests doesn't accept that view: "We were responsible for them, we moved those people away when the train came. I was also there."

The Patna police has issued what it describes as a "severe reprimand" to the NGO.