A passenger protest over allegations that a youth was assaulted and women travelling with him were mistreated forced the Bhagat Ki Kothi-Kacheguda Express to remain halted at Maharashtra’s Hingoli railway station for more than two hours on Thursday, officials said.
The incident took place aboard Train No. 17606 after it crossed Washim, around 40 km from Hingoli, in the early hours of Thursday. The train was travelling from Jodhpur towards Hyderabad when passengers associated with the group staged a protest after reaching Hingoli station.
According to the account reported by PTI, some passengers had boarded the train at Akola for Nanded after returning from Nagpur, where they had attended a Dussehra event. One of their companions, a teenager, allegedly entered a reserved coach by mistake.
The protesters alleged that the teenager was assaulted by some passengers and Railway Protection Force personnel. They further alleged that women travelling with the group were pushed and misbehaved with when they attempted to intervene. Other members of the group were also allegedly assaulted, according to the report.
After the train reached Hingoli, the agitated passengers got down and sat on the railway tracks in front of the engine. They raised slogans against railway personnel and prevented the train from moving. The action brought the service to a standstill and delayed its onward journey by more than two hours.
The incident placed the railway station at the centre of a dispute involving passenger conduct, access to reserved coaches and the role of security personnel in managing onboard conflicts. The allegations, however, have not been established, and the report does not provide the version of the RPF personnel accused by the protesters.
Hingoli town police reached the station and intervened to defuse the situation. The protest was withdrawn after police assured the passengers that their complaint would be investigated. The train resumed its journey after the tracks were cleared, an official said.
The episode also highlights how an onboard confrontation can quickly affect railway operations once passengers block the track in front of a train. In this case, the disruption continued until local police engaged with the protesters and secured their agreement to withdraw the blockade.
Police are expected to examine the complaint and the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault and misconduct. The supplied report does not specify whether a formal case has been registered, whether any personnel have been suspended or whether disciplinary action has been initiated.
