A woman Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) has been suspended by the Railways after a video purportedly showing her verbally abusing a passenger at Jhansi's Veerangana Lakshmibai railway station went viral on social media.She was heard calling the passenger "anguthachhaap (illiterate)" and saying she hated the sight of him, apart from making a threatening remark. The railway administration has also initiated a departmental enquiry into the incident.The incident reportedly took place on November 8, when the KSR Bengaluru-New Delhi Karnataka Express (12627) arrived at the station.A passenger, identified as Shravan Kumar, a resident of Lucknow, was travelling with two others from Penukonda in Andhra Pradesh.
The three had boarded the train on November 6 with sleeper-class tickets purchased from the railway counter.Their tickets initially had waiting list numbers 2, 3 and 4. After chart preparation, two passengers were allotted RAC status in coach S-2, seat number 39, while the third was assigned seat number 47.
According to Shravan, the TTE asked the passengers to produce their tickets when the train reached Jhansi.He claimed that he could not retrieve it immediately as the ticket was inside his bag. This led to an argument, following which the TTE allegedly took him to her office.Shravan said he informed the official that he had a valid ticket but needed some time to locate it among the belongings in his bag.He also suggested that the passengers' names, coach details and seat allocations could be checked through the railway system to verify their booking, according to his version.However, instead of allowing him time to find the ticket, the TTE allegedly began berating him in front of other staff members.
Although Shravan eventually found and produced the ticket, the argument purportedly continued.The passenger further alleged that he was asked to leave the station premises, despite having to travel from Jhansi to Lucknow.The video of the altercation also shows the TTE warning Shravan against returning to the station. He even told her he had already booked an online ticket for the onward journey."Is the ticket online confirmed?...
If the ticket is confirmed, only then you will be able to board the train," the ticket examiner is heard yelling in Hindi.She added, "You don't know anything. You are an 'anguthachhaap' (illiterate)."In the video, the ticket examiner is also heard saying, "Had I not been busy right now, I would have shown you what I am capable of."ACTION AGAINST TTE AFTER COMPLAINT THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIAShravan shared the video of the incident on X, tagging railway authorities and seeking action against the woman.Taking cognisance of the complaint and the viral video, the railway administration initiated an enquiry.Jhansi Railway Division's Public Relations Officer (PRO) Manoj Kumar Singh said Indian Railways considers courteous and respectful treatment of passengers a priority.He confirmed that the TTE had been suspended with immediate effect and a departmental probe had been ordered.
Further legal action would also be taken in the matter, he added.The video has triggered questions about the conduct of railway staff and the manner in which passengers are treated.However, the circumstances leading to the altercation and the allegations made by the passengers were yet to be established through the departmental enquiry.The divisional PRO said the Railways was also undertaking counselling sessions for ticket-checking staff and other employees who interact directly with passengers.Through these sessions, employees are reminded to maintain decorum and treat passengers with dignity while communicating with them, he said.The railway administration reiterated that incidents of misconduct are taken seriously and that there would be no compromise on the respectful treatment of passengers.- Ends(Based on inputs from Ajay Jha)