Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Feb 11: Two train ticket examiners (TTEs), a part of the chief commercial manager (CCM) squad, were arrested for assaulting a student and extorting money from him Wednesday by the Government Railway Police (GRP).
According to inspector in-charge Saubhagya Kumar Swain, KK Mishra, of Visakhapatnam CCM zone, and Diwakar Behera of Bhadrak CCM zone, had snatched away a mobile phone from a passenger for not possessing ticket when a student saw the incident and intervened.
The student alleged the CCM squad official assaulted him for intervening in the matter.
Subendhu Mishra, a postgraduate student of Utkal University, told Orissa Post, “When I told them it is not right to snatch the phone if someone does not have a ticket, they got angry and caught hold of me by my collar. They also thrashed me for not showing my ticket though I told them that it was with my friend.”
Subendhu was traveling in Puri-Cuttack shuttle with his friend Prabodh Mohapatra who stayed in while Mishra got down as the train halted at Bhubaneswar station. It was here Mishra stumbled upon the incident and decided to intervene. But, things turned ugly.
“I told them I’ve ticket and it’s with my friend, but both of them were already dragging me by collar,” said Mishra. Meanwhile, the train started and in the confusion his friend Mohapatra jumped off and hit his head with a pillar. Mohapatra was taken to the Capital Hospital immediately.
The ruckus attracted the attention of GRP who arrested the two CCM squad officials. Mohapatra returned to police station after a first-aid, while his friend lodged a complaint with the police.
Swain said, “It’s a common practice by CCM squads to fleece money from passengers. We are concerned about it.” Swain expressed his helplessness saying unless passengers step up and lodge complaints, none can do anything.
