Samastipur Incident Highlights Concerns Over Indian Railways' Treatment of Disabled Passengers
- A train guard in Bihar was reported mistreating a disabled passenger on the Vaishali Superfast Express.
- The incident involves manhandling and abusing a differently-abled man in a coach meant for disabled persons.
- Reports also mention other instances of railway employees misbehaving with passengers in Bihar.
In a troubling incident that has drawn widespread condemnation, a train guard on the Vaishali Superfast Express in Bihar was caught on video mistreating a differently-abled passenger. The incident, which occurred on August 13 at Samastipur Railway Station, has sparked outrage on social media, with many users criticizing the behavior of the Indian Railways employee. The video footage shows the guard, identified as Ram Ashish Das, aggressively confronting the disabled man, who was using walking sticks for support. The guard can be seen shouting at the passenger, demanding he leave the train, and even attempting to physically push him off while calling for assistance from a Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable. The reasons behind this altercation remain unclear, but the guard's actions have been widely condemned as inhumane. Passengers and advocates for the disabled have expressed their dismay at the treatment of individuals with disabilities within the railway system. This incident is part of a broader pattern of troubling reports regarding train safety and passenger treatment, raising questions about the adequacy of training and oversight for railway staff. In light of this incident, there are calls for Indian Railways to take immediate and strict action against the guard involved. Advocates emphasize the need for improved policies and training to ensure that all passengers, especially those with disabilities, are treated with dignity and respect while traveling.