Following a deluge of complaints about eunuchs hounding and humiliating train commuters if they do not fork out money, RPF begins drive to deal with the nuisance
If you have ever been cornered by eunuchs in trains, who publicly embarrass you with their acts if you choose not to give them money, you will be relieved to know that the railway police have begun cracking down on the nuisance created by them. After receiving a slew of complaints from passengers travelling in locals as well as long-distance trains, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) on the Central Railway has started a drive against eunuchs stalking commuters onboard for money.
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Unacceptable: Most passengers come with the same problem, saying that eunuchs trail them, touch them inappropriately, or make some sort of a spectacle until they shell out some dough. representation pic
“We have consistently been getting complaints about eunuchs troubling passengers in trains. Our job is to note the complaint and forward it to the RPF, who do the rest. On an average, I receive two complaints every day for this particular problem,” said a stationmaster, who did not want to be identified. Most passengers come with the same problem, saying that eunuchs trail them, touch them inappropriately, or make some sort of a spectacle until they shell out some dough.
“This is a regular problem taking place in long-distance trains mainly from Kalyan to Dadar and onwards. Many passengers have approached us to make complaints. A few even informed us about the exact timing the eunuchs come in a particular train every day. Our men went in the same coach and the eunuchs have been prosecuted,” said a senior inspector. “The eunuchs allegedly demand money from passengers, sing vulgar songs and act in a manner which embarrasses a person. Usually, they travel without tickets and many are booked for it,” said the inspector. He also added that they mostly travel in groups of two or three.
The RPF started the drive a while ago but more men have been assigned on the job in the past few days. According to a senior railway official, last week, RPF registered over 40 cases in different jurisdictions. Between January and April this year, the RPF registered 435 cases and recovered Rs 93,910 in fines from them. Some 60-odd cases have been registered in the month of May alone. Eunuchs caught for such acts are booked under Sections 144 and 145B of the Railway Act for creating nuisance in trains for passengers. They have to pay a fine of Rs 200 and are discharged by the court.
Alok Bohra, Senior Divisional Security Commissioner, RPF (CR), said, “After the complaints we received, we have been conducting several drives. This is a regular exercise, but after receiving a spate of complaints, I have instructed my inspectors to take action in their concerned areas.”u00a0
500
The approximate number of complaints lodged with the RPF about eunuchs pestering commuters on CR this year
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