Tribunal awards 8L to girl pushed off train in ’21
Times of India | 7 September 2024
Kolkata: The Kolkata Bench of Railway Claims Tribunal on Friday granted Rs 8 lakh compensation to a 18-year-old girl who was pushed off a running train on Dec 29, 2021. The Eastern Railway GM has been directed to ensure her treatment — for a face injury — from a “top class” railway hospital free of cost.
The judge, S D Sharma, held, “It has been brought to our notice that the girl belongs to a poor family.She is now living with her mother, who works as a security guard. She also disclosed that she is unable to bear her medical expenses for plastic surgery of her injured face.”
The ER was also directed to hire a specialised doctor for her treatment.
The victim, a first-year student, was travelling from Sodepur to Sealdah when she was pushed off the train near Kankurgachhi crossing by the accused, identified as Amarbir Singh. The victim claimed that in an otherwise empty compartment, Singh allegedly demanded cash and molested her at knifepoint, before pushing her off the train.
She suffered multiple injuries, including facial disfigurement and fracture. A case was registered by Sealdah GRPS against the accused under section 325 and 354 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The tribunal observed, “It is very surprising why a simple case under section 325 and section 354 was registered by Sealdah GRPS, though there is sufficient evidence on record that it was a case of ‘attempt to murder’.”
The judge ordered that a judgement copy be sent to the Director General (P) of Police, West Bengal, to get the enquiry conducted and, if sufficient evidence is found, a proper case under section 307 of the old IPC be registered. If they find that the investigating officer helped the accused, action should be taken against the investigating officer, the judge directed.