In yet another incident raising concerns over safety of women on board trains in Bihar, an MLA was allegedly beaten up by railway employees when he tried to prevent harassment of his wife. Two employees have been arrested on charges of molestation and attempt to murder in connection with Friday night’s incident.
The BJP MLA, Shivesh Kumar, who was travelling by the Danapur-Howrah Express with his wife and six-month-old girl, told The Hindu : “In the seat next to us in our AC-II tier coach, around 10 people were sitting in the seats meant for just four. They all seemed to be aged between 25 and 30 and most were drunk. When a ticket examiner arrived, my wife requested change of seat, citing concerns over their behaviour. But he said his duty was in the next compartment. After he left, they got very aggressive.”
When the train arrived at Patna city, more persons got in. “The miscreants started pushing us around and purposely fell on us. They were also passing indecent comments. When I stood up to them, they pushed me and started to throttle me. I pulled the chain and told them that I am an MLA. But they threatened us, saying if a complaint was filed they would kill us.”
