Amid videos of unruly passengers pelting stones and breaking windows of Kumbh trains, Railway Protection Force jumps into action, 4 FIRs filed

According to officials, three incidents of passengers breaking train windows have come to light from Ekma, Madhubani and Danapur railway stations in Bihar. Officials added that one incident pertains to passengers inside the train being beaten by those outside using a wooden pole; one is of passengers entering the engine attached to the train; and one of stone pelting on a Vande Bharat Train at Subedarganj railway station in Prayagraj.

Officials said that an FIR under section 153 (endangering the safety of persons travelling by railway) of the Railways Act has been registered at RPF Post, Chhapra Junction, in connection with the incident at Ekma station, where some unidentified persons pelted stones at Lichchavi Express on Wednesday.

Similarly, on February 10, when the Jaynagar-New Delhi Swatantrata Senani Express arrived at platform number 2 of Madhubani station, the windows and doors were closed from the inside. A huge crowd of passengers at Madhubani station, who were unable to board the train, became agitated and broke many window glass, for which an FIR has been filed.

“An incident has been reported on social media regarding Danapur. Details are being verified. Action will be initiated accordingly,” said an official of the Ministry of Railways.

There have also been alleged incidents of passengers beating other passengers in an attempt to find space inside a train en route to Mahakumbh in Prayagraj.

“On February 12, due to overcrowding of passengers at Katihar station trying to board train No. 12487 to visit Prayagraj for Kumbh Snan, some of the passengers resorted to creating a nuisance and disrupted the boarding of co-passengers in the train. Based on the video received via X, a case has been registered at RPF Post Katihar against the unknown persons,” said the official quoted above.

A similar incident on another Kumbh Mela Special train took place on February 9 wherein, due to doors being locked from the inside, some devotees climbed into the non-working (watcher) engine attached to the rear of the train in the middle of the night. Officials said that no FIR was registered in this matter, and the passengers were safely brought down and counselled.

An incident of stone pelting on a Vande Bharat train has also come to light, where the glass of coach number C5 of the train was broken. “A passenger named Pranav informed us about this incident, which took place Thursday morning. An FIR has been registered against unknown person at RPF Post, Subedarganj. In all incidents, based on analysis of CCTV footage, the accused are being traced for further action,” said a ministry official.