By IANS,
Lucknow : A government official in Uttar Pradesh allegedly roughed up a railway employee for refusing to open the level crossing gates closed before a train was to arrive in Pratapgarh district, officials said Wednesday.
Shyam Charan, sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) in Kunda town in Pratapgarh, some 150 km from Lucknow, Tuesday allegedly assaulted the gateman, Ramesh Chandra Meena, and was adamant that he cross the railway tracks before the train passed by. He apparently also roughed up people who tried to intervene.
Pratapgarh district authorities Wednesday ordered an enquiry against Charan’s “violent behaviour”.
“As I came to know about the incident, I ordered an enquiry into it. Let the enquiry be completed. Necessary action would be taken accordingly,” Pratapgarh District Magistrate C.S. Verma told reporters.
According to Meena, the sub-divisional magistrate asked him to open the gates at the Mawai railway crossing and kicked and punched the gateman when he refused to do so.
“Hurling abuses at me, the SDM directed me to open the gates…I gently replied that opening the gates would amount to violation of safety norms and that he should wait till the Kanpur-Allahabad passenger passes by,” Meena told reporters Wednesday.
“Not ready to hear me, the SDM got down from his car and slapped me. Then he dragged me by my collar and again directed me to open the gates. When I again said that it would not be possible, he started punching and kicking me, after which I fell on the ground,” Meena said.
Meena has submitted a written complaint against Charan with the railway authorities.
When contacted, Charan declined to comment on the incident.