Railwaymen's Federation demands strict action against assault on Railway official in Agra Cantt
New Delhi, July 15
The All India Railwaymen's Federation condemned physical assault and alleged misconduct by Railway Protection Force personnel against Narendra Singh Chahar, Deputy Station Superintendent, Agra Cantt. Railway Station, while he was discharging his official duties in the interest of passenger safety.
AIRF stated that instead of appreciating this exemplary act of dedication and passenger service, certain RPF personnel allegedly entered into an altercation with the Deputy Station Superintendent over the temporary stoppage of the train.
The North Central Railway (NCR) has suspended four Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel, including 2 Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs), with immediate effect after a video showcasing the RPF personnel assaulting a Deputy Station Superintendent (Dy SS) at the Agra Cantt Railway Station surfaced online
Expressing serious concern over the incident, AIRF General Secretary Shiva Gopal Mishra said that "Railway employees, irrespective of the department to which they belong, are expected to function as one team with mutual respect, coordination and professionalism. Any act of intimidation, misconduct or physical assault against an employee performing his legitimate duties is unacceptable and deserves the strictest disciplinary and legal action."
"Such incidents not only demoralise the workforce but also adversely affect the culture of teamwork that is essential for the safe and efficient operation of Indian Railways," he added.
The Federation emphasised that railway employees are duty-bound to provide every possible assistance to passengers, particularly in situations concerning their safety and welfare. Penalising or intimidating employees for discharging such humanitarian responsibilities sends a highly discouraging message to the entire railway fraternity and undermines public confidence in the railway system.
AIRF has urged the Chairman & CEO, Railway Board, to conduct a thorough and impartial examination of the incident and ensure that, if the allegations are substantiated, stringent action is taken against all those responsible. The Federation has also requested the Railway Board to issue comprehensive instructions to all Zonal Railways and Production Units to strengthen inter-departmental coordination, promote mutual respect among railway employees, and prevent the recurrence of such unfortunate incidents.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is what happens when departments work in silos. The AIRF is right - railway employees should work as a team. But let's be honest, incidents like this show a deeper rot in the system. RPF needs better training in conflict resolution and inter-departmental coordination. Hope the Railway Board's investigation is truly thorough, not just a formality.
I travel frequently through Agra Cantt station, and let me tell you, the tension between different railway departments is palpable. This assault is just a symptom. The real issue is that RPF often acts like they own the station instead of being part of a service-oriented team. Good that the video went viral - sometimes social media is the only way to get justice in India.
Sad to see this. Railway employees work so hard, often underpaid and overworked, and then they face this kind of treatment from their own colleagues. What message does this send to passengers? If the RPF can't respect their own people, how can we expect them to respect passengers? Need strict action and better training. Period.
While the assault is completely unacceptable, let's also consider the RPF personnel's perspective - they might have been following orders or protocols in their own department. This points to a systemic failure in communication between RPF and station management. The Railway Board should set up a joint coordination committee at every major station to prevent such clashes in future. 🤔
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