Flash strike by rail personnel

Seven trains went without Train Ticket Examiners (TTE) after a section of TTEs went on flash strike at the Central station here on Friday, in protest against the delay in taking action, after a TTE was manhandled in Kannur.

A TTE from Thiruvananthapuram railway division V. Jayakumar was manhandled at the rest room of the running staff at the Kannur station on Thursday night. TTEs owing allegiance to SRMU, a recognised union, took out a protest march at the Central station around 10 a.m. and did not take up duty on trains.

Suspension demanded

Railway sources said they were demanding suspension of the supervisor, Praveen, who was in charge of the room at the time of the assault. But, an RPF inquiry revealed that Mr. Praveen was not at the scene at the time of incident. With Railways not yielding to their demand for action, the agitators asked the personnel manning the information desk and the booking office to participate in the flash strike.

Later, the stir was called off after senior Railway officials promised stern action against those responsible for the assault.

A statement from the Palakkad railway division said a committee had been set up to inquire into the incident.