Kanpur:
Twenty-eight-year-old Alka decided that for her journey home from Patna, a first-class ticket on the Rajdhani was worth it. After all, she was returning alone to Delhi.
In the middle of the night, however, two men who were travelling in the same coupe allegedly molested her. Ironically, the offenders were on the train to guarantee the safety of another woman, Jyoti Kumar, a Congress politician from Aari in Bihar - who was travelling in another coupe near Alka.
The Rajdhani is meant to have four armed commandos from the Railway Protection Force patrolling the entire train. There was no sign of them while she was being assaulted. Alka shouted out for help. That summoned Jyoti Kumar, the employer of the guards.
Kumar allegedly responded to Alka's SOS by beating her. This version of events is confirmed by other passengers. Though the politician says, "I did not beat her. It was she who assaulted me."
Other passengers asked a train attendant to summon the commandos. Nobody showed up.
When the train pulled into the Kanpur station at 10:30 am on Tuesday, passengers were shouting angry slogans against the railway police.
Finally, one of the two guards who work for Ragini was arrested. The second guard is absconding.
Alka is completing her journey to Delhi with a police escort. Her statement will be recorded en route to the capital. Besides a molestation case, the police will also see if the politician can be booked for assault.
The worrying issue for many women passengers: that even one of India's most prestigious trains can pose a dangerous journey.
In the middle of the night, however, two men who were travelling in the same coupe allegedly molested her. Ironically, the offenders were on the train to guarantee the safety of another woman, Jyoti Kumar, a Congress politician from Aari in Bihar - who was travelling in another coupe near Alka.
The Rajdhani is meant to have four armed commandos from the Railway Protection Force patrolling the entire train. There was no sign of them while she was being assaulted. Alka shouted out for help. That summoned Jyoti Kumar, the employer of the guards.
Kumar allegedly responded to Alka's SOS by beating her. This version of events is confirmed by other passengers. Though the politician says, "I did not beat her. It was she who assaulted me."
Other passengers asked a train attendant to summon the commandos. Nobody showed up.
When the train pulled into the Kanpur station at 10:30 am on Tuesday, passengers were shouting angry slogans against the railway police.
Finally, one of the two guards who work for Ragini was arrested. The second guard is absconding.
Alka is completing her journey to Delhi with a police escort. Her statement will be recorded en route to the capital. Besides a molestation case, the police will also see if the politician can be booked for assault.
The worrying issue for many women passengers: that even one of India's most prestigious trains can pose a dangerous journey.
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