JALANDHAR – An Ajnala-based youth died after he was allegedly thrown out of a moving train by personnel of the Railway Protection Force (RPF). Another youth who was also reportedly pushed from the train sustained critical injuries.
The deceased has been identified as Mukhtyar Singh (19), a resident of Balarwal village, while the injured as Kulwant Singh (19) of Donewal village, both in Ajnala.
The youths along with over 12 others were returning from Ludhiana after inquiring about an Army recruitment rally. The deceased was already selected in the Army in a previous recruitment rally.
One of the eyewitnesses said: “We boarded Hawra Express from Ludhiana to Amritsar. Since there was a huge rush of passengers, we sat in a coach meant for the differently abled. When we reached Jalandhar Cantt railway station at 9 am, three RPF personnel boarded the train and started beating us. Fearing more trouble, we all started alighting from the stationary train.”
All youths managed to get down, except Kulwant and Mukhtyar. “The policemen first pushed Kulwant out of the moving train. He was hit by an engine running on another track and sustained serious injuries. Later, Mukhtyar was also pushed. He got crushed under the engine and died on the spot,” he alleged.
Four RPF personnel, including an ASI, have been booked under Sections 304 and 308 of the IPC. Lakhwinder Singh Khaira, SP, GRP, said they were probing the matter and the guilty policemen would be identified and required action would be taken against them.
Surinder, ASI, RPF, refuted the allegations. “We entered the stationary train to shoo away the youths sitting in a coach meant for differently abled. On seeing us, they started jumping out of the train and two of them met with an accident. We are not at fault.” Mukhtyar’s father Jagga Singh, a daily wager, said his son had been selected in the Army in January. “He wanted to serve the nation. We were very proud of his achievement, but now all our dreams had been shattered,” he said.
