A Bengaluru-based software professional was allegedly assaulted by a ticket collector at the cantonment railway station after he was held for carrying his foldable bicycle.
According to Deshmukh Dishendra’s Facebook post, the incident happened on Tuesday.
He alleged that a woman ticket collector demanded a fine six times his fare for carrying the foldable cycle in the train that she claimed was against the luggage rules. She demanded a fine of Rs. 300 from Deshmukh.
However, she allegedly refused to give receipt for the fine because she did not know the exact amount according to the rule following which he called her corrupt.
The ticket collecter allegedly asked a railway constable to lock Deshmukh up after which he was stripped and beaten up in the lock up.
On Facebook he wrote, " I am determined to teach a lesson to these corrupt officials even if it cost me my life."
According to a Deccan Chronicle report the case is being investigated by addition director general of police of railways Bengaluru.
DC quoted superintendent of police (Railways) D. Prakash saying, “A petition was submitted to ADGP Railways, Amar Kumar Pandey, by the victim following which an internal inquiry has been ordered. On Saturday, I visited the station where the incident took place and have ordered a preliminary probe into the matter. We are talking with both the parties as the woman ticket collector has filed a counter-complaint of molestation against Mr Deshmukh Dishendra. We have registered both cases. Disciplinary action will be taken if the policemen are found guilty.”
Deshmukh, wrote his account on Facebook on February 11 in which he claims to have a voice recording of the whole incident. He also hopes that the CCTV footage would help him.
“I have read of those inhumane incident happening in many parts of country. But you won't totally believe unless you encounter one. Now onward I can totally believe them.
I frequently travel to China for my official trips. One thing I always adored about them is their heavy use of electrical or foldable bicycle which they were carrying with them in subway. This time after coming to India I desperately started looking for such bicycle if available in India. At last I found one BTWIN HOPTOWN bicycle at Decathlon. I immediately bought and started using it carrying it with me on train between the route KR PURAM to Bangalore Cantonment. I am proud of the fact that I am not the one contributing to the pollution in Bangalore.
On 9/2/2016, while exiting from Bangalore Cantonment railway station one ticket checking officer lady caught me and started to demand fine for carrying bicycle with me. I tried to convince her, once folded it is not bicycle at all, it weights hardly 14 kg and it is very much portable. But she insisted on asking for 6 times the fare of travel. I asked her for the railway rules regarding this and the receipt of the bill. She took my pass and made me to wait for another 30 minutes and later came with an excuse that she doesn't know the luggage rules. I was getting late and told her 6 times my fare of travel is 60 rupees and that she can have 100 rupees and let me go. But she demanded 300 rupees. I told her even if it is 1000 rupees I will pay but I need the receipt. She presented same excuse that she doesn't know the luggage rules. At last I lost my patience and started to call her corrupt. After which she slapped me, pushed me and called her police constable colleague to take me to the jail for misbehavior. He took me to the jail and started beating me. His other colleagues joined him, they undressed me and started beating me with hand, leg and sticks 5 people at a time. I was sure that I am going to die today and only my body will be found tomorrow. I begged them in all the possible way I can. At last after an hour one guy listened to my plea and asked me to pay 5000 rupees. He asked me to call any of my friend to come with 5000 rupees and then can take me back.
I called my manager Harish Haswani who came with to other two mutual colleagues of ours. All three had to plea to the railway police for more than an hour on my behalf as Railway police has threatened them that they will file a case of misbehavior with lady officer against me and that I have tried to press her boobs. I am too much shocked to see to what level character of a woman can fall. After too much of plea and the bribe from my colleagues they released me. The lady officer fined me 190Rs stating my bicycle weight is 40kg although it is 14kg only. Also she fined me for ticketless travelling though I was having the monthly pass. Also, the receipt she issued is of date 8/02/16 and not 9/02/16 on which date I travelled and the incident took place. We all were too much afraid and didn't dare to ask her for the mistake in the receipt. All of our focus was just to save my life and get me out of there.
I am undergoing treatment. My left hand is fractured. Temporary my friend sarfaraz is taking care of me.
I am determined never to travel by train in Bangalore again. My foldable BTWIN bicycle will never get used again.. ;( But at the same time I have lost all the focus at my work. Fortunately my mobile has done the voice recording of entire incident. My mobile recording along cctv camera recording at railway is enough to prove if I have done remotely any kind of misbehavior with the lady. I am determined to teach a lesson to these corrupt officials even if it cost me my life.
I have written letters to all higher police authorities as well as human rights commission seeking action in this regards. They will respond but very very unfortunately as per Indian government office time. Uploading the photo of the corrupt lady with my bicycle and my photo in current condition.[SIC]”