Magistrate booked for assaulting railway employee

Lucknow, March 18 : A sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) in Uttar Pradesh was booked Thursday for assaulting a level-crossing gateman who did not let him cross the tracks while a train was approaching, an official said.

Shyam Charan, posted in Kunda town of Pratapgarh district, has been accused of assaulting gateman Ramesh Chandra Meena Tuesday at Mawai railway crossing under the jurisdiction of Railway Protection Force (RPF), Unchahar (Rae Bareli).

"The SDM has been booked under the Railways Act section 145 (committing nuisance, indecency or using abusive language or interfering with any amenity provided by the railway administration) and section 146 (obstructing railway servant in his duties)," RPF inspector R.C. Joshi told reporters Thursday in Unchahar, some 90 km from Lucknow.

"The case against the SDM has been registered on the basis of a preliminary enquiry conducted by us," he added.

Another enquiry into the incident has been ordered by the Pratapgarh district magistrate. "Let the enquiry be completed. Necessary action would be taken accordingly," District Magistrate C.S. Verma told reporters Wednesday.

Meena told reporters: "Hurling abuses at me, the SDM directed me to open the gate...I replied that opening the gate would amount to violation of safety norms and that he should wait till the Kanpur-Allahabad passenger train passes by."

"Later, the SDM got down from his car and slapped me. He then dragged me by my collar and directed me to open the gate. When I refused again, he started punching and kicking me and I fell on the ground," Meena said.