TTE booked over death of Navy officer's wife after fall from train in UP
New Delhi (PTI): A ticket examiner was booked for allegedly pushing the wife of a Navy officer to her death from a Patna–Anand Vihar special train near Etawah in Uttar Pradesh, officials said on Friday.
The woman’s family has alleged that the Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) pushed her out of the moving train, they said, adding that an FIR has been registered at the Government Railway Police (GRP) office in Etawah on Thursday.
The officials added that at least five co-passengers, in written statements to the Railways, have defended the TTE and said that the woman jumped on her own after he asked her to shift to the general compartment as she was carrying a ticket for another train.
The victim, Arti Yadav, boarded the sleeper coach of a Patna-Anand Vihar special train at around 7:30 am from Kanpur on Tuesday. At around 9:30 am, the Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) Santosh Kumar entered the coach and asked her to show her ticket, they said.
"The lady said she had a ticket for another train. The TTE told her to go to the general coach. Then the lady said she would get down at the next station," Anchal Srivastava, a passenger occupying berth number 4—where Arti Yadav had sat after entering the sleeper coach—said in a written statement to the Railways.
Srivastava added, "When the TTE again asked her to shift to the general coach, she said she would jump out of the train. After saying this, she took her bag and jumped out of the train near Bharthna station."
Another passenger, Raj Vaibhav Singh, reiterated Srivastava’s version and added that she threw her Aadhaar card towards the TTE before taking her bag and jumping out of the train, as the coach door was close to the berth she was sitting in.
"I was on berth no 20, but when I heard the TTE and the woman talking to each other, I went to the berth to find out what went wrong," Raj told PTI.
Three other passengers occupying adjoining berths and present during the incident have given similar written statements.
However, Yadav’s husband, Ajay Singh, who serves in the Indian Navy, alleged that she was pushed out of the speeding train by the TTE following an argument.
"The TTE pushed her out of the moving train. Her bag was recovered 4 km away from the body. Her mobile phone is missing. Her back was severely injured, while the front side had no injury marks. This shows foul play," Singh told PTI from her village in Kanpur Dehat.
When informed that co-passengers said she jumped on her own, Singh questioned their version and said, "I came to know that one of the co-passengers, Raj Vaibhav Singh, had called 139 and complained about the TTE’s misbehaviour with my wife. But now, very strangely, he has changed his statement."
Singh further argued, "Kanpur (where she boarded) and Bharthna (where her body was found) are about 130 km apart. If she intended to commit suicide, why would she wait so long? She could have done it soon after the train started speeding."
He also said his wife had recently travelled alone from Mumbai to Kanpur without any issues and denied that she had any mental distress.
"I request the GRP to thoroughly investigate the matter," he said.
In his statement, TTE Kumar said the victim initially claimed she had an AC class ticket for another train (No. 02563) and tried to show it on her phone, but he could only see the train number.
He said he merely asked her to shift to the general coach, after which she threw her Aadhaar card at him, picked up her bag, and jumped out of the train.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Have no personal involvement in Cong’s action against some minority leaders: Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday said he has no personal involvement in action taken against certain Congress leaders from the minority community following allegations of an internal conspiracy during the recently held Davanagere South bypolls.
He clarified that the decisions were taken by the party high command based on available reports.
Asserting that party discipline is of utmost importance, Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, sought to downplay concerns that action against minority leaders may send the message that “Muslims are being targeted.”
“I don’t have any personal involvement in this. Whatever decisions are taken are made by the party leadership. The party has its own reports. Decisions regarding MLAs or MLCs cannot be taken at the state level without instructions from Delhi,” he said.
Speaking to reporters, he added, “People may blame me; I am not concerned. Everyone must function in accordance with party discipline.”
Responding to concerns within sections of the party that recent actions may convey the impression that minority leaders are being targeted, he said the Congress exists for the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minorities, backward classes, farmers, and all sections of society.
The Congress has suspended MLC K Abdul Jabbar from primary membership and relieved another MLC, Naseer Ahmed, from the post of Chief Minister’s political secretary.
The action followed allegations by a group of Muslim leaders that certain party members conspired to defeat the official candidate in Davanagere South.
Following the action, speculation has emerged that Housing Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan may also face disciplinary measures during the next cabinet reshuffle.
The three leaders had reportedly sought a Muslim candidate for the Davanagere South bypoll ticket, which the party instead allotted to the late MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa’s grandson, Samarth Mallikarjun.
They were also said to have not actively participated in the campaign.
Shivakumar also rejected claims of factionalism within the ruling party amid speculation that leaders close to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah were being targeted.
Naseer Ahmed and Zameer Ahmed Khan are considered close to the CM.
Rejecting allegations of factionalism within the party, Shivakumar said, “We speak to each other every day. It is the media that creates divisions. Where is my faction? Has anyone put up a board saying they belong to the Siddaramaiah faction? Have I put up any such board?”
“All 139 legislators are my people, and they are all Siddaramaiah’s people as well. Everyone belongs to the Congress,” he added, saying there are no factions within the party and that such claims are media-driven.
Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Satish Jarkiholi met Shivakumar on Friday, a day after expressing concerns that disciplinary action against minority leaders may send the wrong message.
Shivakumar said he discussed with Jarkiholi the need to decongest Bengaluru traffic by diverting vehicles entering the city from state and national highways, along with party-related issues.
“We also discussed political matters in the interest of the party and the need to work together,” he said.
Later, speaking to reporters, Jarkiholi said he discussed with Shivakumar the issue of withdrawing Jabbar’s suspension. He said he will also visit New Delhi next week to meet the high command and discuss state developments.
“Jabbar’s suspension was discussed (with Shivakumar). It should be withdrawn. Let’s issue him a notice and allow him to reply. Then let’s send the report to the high command and seek their approval. High command approval is necessary because the instructions came from there. It may take some time,” he said.
Stating that he met the KPCC chief for “damage control,” the minister said, “We have tried to convince him. Sometimes certain decisions happen that need rectification.”
_vb_33.jpeg)
