Constable thrashes asst station master

NAGPUR, Feb 28: A Railway Protection Force RPF constable, posted at Dharakho Railway Station of the Central Railway in Betul, was suspended on charges of assaulting the Assistant Station Master ASM at Dharakho early Friday morning.The RPF constable, who could not be identified, was reportedly dead drunk and assaulted ASM Dhote with a leather belt following heated arguments between the two.

According to sources, Dhote, who was in the night shift at the Dharakho station, received complaints of harassment from passengers against the said constable. Passengers reportedly told Dhote that the RPF constable had attempted to extort money from them. Dhote was said to have asked the RPF constable to leave the premises, when an argument broke out between the two and soon, the RPF constable assaulted Dhote with a leather belt.ASM Dhote, who has suffered minor bruises, contacted the Divisional Railway Manager at Nagpur to inform him about the incident.

Sources said that Dhote later refused to join work, as aresult of which a few trains on the north-south direction got delayed. During the day, a two-member team headed by Assistant Personal Officer Welfare was sent to Dharakho to probe the incident.

Later, speaking to The Indian Express, Additional Railway Manager ADRM Jolly confirmed the incident and said that the RPF constable had been suspended from duty. He, however, categorically denied that any train was delayed due to the incident.