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Journalism of Courage
Travelling on Indian Railways without a ticket is a punishable offence, but ticket less travel is rampant. Often, many such passengers go unnoticed, but at times, their actions come to light when videos surface online. One such video has recently gone viral, showing a heated argument between a woman passenger and a train ticket examiner (TTE) inside an AC coach.
The woman, a government school teacher from Bihar, was caught travelling without a valid ticket. When the TTE confronted her and asked her to move to an unreserved coach, she accused him of “trying to disturb” her.
The TTE, while performing his duty, asked her firmly to “show your ticket or get out.” In the viral clip, he can be heard confirming that the woman is indeed a teacher working under the Bihar government. Despite being confronted, the woman refused to cooperate and kept insisting that she was being harassed.
At one point in the video, the woman tries to avoid the conversation by pretending to be busy on her phone. The TTE, however, stands his ground and says, “Agar ticket hai toh show kijiye na ma’am” (If you have a ticket, please show it, ma’am). Moments later, she stands up and attempts to snatch the TTE’s phone as he continues to record her actions.
The TTE sternly warns her not to touch his phone and reminds her that she’s in the wrong. Still defiant, the woman argues, “Ek mahila ko pareshan kar rahe hain aap” (You’re trying to harass a woman), and adds, “Aur nahi jayenge toh kya kar lenge?” (And what will you do if I don’t leave?). Despite her provocations, the TTE keeps his composure and ensures that she eventually leaves the train.
During their exchange, both seem to admit that this wasn’t their first run-in — suggesting that the woman may have been caught without a ticket before. So far, Indian Railways has not issued any statement regarding the incident.
The video has sparked a wave of reactions online, with netizens calling out the woman’s behaviour. One user joked, “She picked her phone like she is going to call Donald Trump.” Another wrote, “Bihar se guzar waali train mei 80% passengers beghair ticket travel karte hain, ghunda-gardi bhi karte hain” (Trains passing through Bihar have nearly 80% passengers travelling without tickets, bullying others is common for them).
Others criticised her for “playing the women card.” A fourth user commented, “Traveling without a ticket in an AC coach, or even on buses, is seen as a matter of pride for many in Bihar. Those who actually buy tickets are made to feel humiliated by such passengers.”
