Railway Staff Beats Passenger Over Food Complaint, ₹5 Lakh Fine Imposed

Kathua (Jammu & Kashmir) [India], May 08: A peaceful train journey turned violent when a man named Vishal was attacked by catering staff for raising his voice. He was travelling in 3rd AC of the Hemkunt Express when he complained on the IRCTC app about being charged more for food items. What happened next was shocking and disturbing for many across the country.

From Complaint to Chaos

Vishal had only reported a common issue—overcharging of food. His complaint was resolved by IRCTC, but it didn’t end there. The staff he had reported returned later and asked him to come down from his top berth. When he refused, one of the catering members climbed up and beat him. Other passengers were horrified and tried to stop the attacker.

Passenger’s Safety in Question

Vishal’s hand was bleeding and his clothes were torn. The video he posted on social media showed the violence clearly. He said, “They saw I was alone and attacked me.” People online expressed anger and sadness. Many questioned how such a thing could happen inside an AC coach of a government train. Is our train travel truly safe anymore?

IRCTC and Railways Respond

After the video went viral, the Indian Railways acted quickly. They shared a tweet saying the issue was taken very seriously. A penalty of ₹5 lakh was given to the catering company. Also, an FIR was filed at the GRP police station in Kathua. The Railway Ministry said that the incident was under strict watch and more action would follow after full investigation.

Train Journeys Must Be Safe

This is not the first time passengers have felt unsafe during train travel. Indian Railways has a long and proud history, serving millions every day. But such cases shake people’s trust. Strict actions like this fine show that the government is listening. But more safety checks, CCTV usage, and staff behaviour training must be taken seriously to stop such shocking events from happening again.