06 October,2016 08:10 PM IST | | Suraj Ojha
Railway cops resort to public shaming of able-bodied people travelling in the handicapped coach of Mumbai locals by making them stand on crutches on the platform
On an average, around 40 commuters are rounded up daily while wrongly travelling in the handicapped bogies
If you are one of those train travellers who don't put much merit in the idea of exercising refrain from boarding a handicapped bogie, think again. In the last three days, the Kurla RPF has initiated an uncomfortable yet fitting punishment for the 25 physically able commuters who flouted the rules and made them stand on crutches till the cops finished legal proceedings against them.
All 25 offenders caught by the Kurla GRP were all made to stand on crutches till proceedings against them were completed; some were repeat offenders too
The RPF officials said that lately, there has been an increasing trend of people claiming to be handicapped to travel in the "Divyaang" (Handicap) compartment, which is relatively less crowded. "We have been carrying out drives from time to time to avoid such violations, but there seems to be no impact on the commuters since the fine involved is too less," an RPF officer from Kurla said on condition of anonymity.
Also Read: Mumbai: No more 'regular' travelling in coaches for the handicapped
Innovative and effective
To drive home their point, the RPF has now come up with this fresh solution that if a commuter is caught travelling in the handicapped compartment, apart from the Rs 500 fine under Section 155 (1) of the Railway Protection Act, they will be made to stand on crutches for the entire duration that the legal proceedings are being conducted.
RPF Senior Divisional Security Commissioner, Sachin Bhadole, said, "On a normal day, on the Central Railways, around 40 commuters are caught everyday travelling in the handicapped compartment. When special drives are conducted, the number goes up to as many as 70 people." OF this, around 25 are accounted for at the Kurla Station alone.
Read Story: Mumbai: Handicapped commuters demand CCTV in their coaches to nail offenders
Senior inspector Suresh Atri of the Kurla RPF added, "We just want people to realise their crime and ensure that they do not repeat it again. Mostly, we catch repeat offenders."
Lesson learnt?
One such offender, Navin Khatri, who was caught travelling in the handicapped compartment explained, "I was in a hurry and did not see that it was the reserved bogie." The RPF, however, claims that Khatri is a history sheeter since they have caught him in the past too.
Vasant Dhondhe, another such commuter told the police that his legs have severe burn injuries so he had deliberately boarded the compartment. A claim that the police is not ready to buy.
"Usually, people with minor injuries are seen traveling in the handicapped compartment. It can only be considered if the injuries are major," said an RPF staffer.
