| Address: | PERIYAR UNIVERSITY, SALEM |
To,
The Divisional Railway Manager,
Indian Railway, Sothern Zone,
Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
Complainant: Philips Joseph
Subject: Snooping and undue harassment by TTEs – Mr Sudarshan, Mr R R R Rao and other on Train No. 22648 running on 09/08/23 from Salem to Nagpur
Res/Sir
I am the traveler, Mr Philips Joseph (PhD Research Scholar, Periyar University, Salem, in the field of Journalism and Mass Communication), who was travelling in Train No. 22648 in AC2 Coach – Berth No. 50 (upper) on 09/08/23 from Salem to Nagpur. I had very bitter experience as one of your TTEs called Mr Sudarshan at 2 am was standing and staring in front of my cubicle and was doing sort of snooping as if he was told to keep watch on me. If it is so, then it’s out-and-out breach of my personal privacy and threat by one who is supposed to make our journey comfortable. This incident has shaken my confidence regarding travel in train; I am deeply hurt and hesitant to travel in future unless this issue is seriously and genuinely resolved. The full story is related below as it happened on train No. 22648.
I boarded the aforesaid train from Salem, Tamil Nadu, at 6.10 PM and once having checked by one of the TTEs whose name I do not know, things were alright. But suddenly at 2.15 AM, when I was lying on my upper berth after coming from the rest room, I noticed one stodgy man (who later revealed his name as Mr Sudarshan - TTE) was gazing and intensely staring at me; immediately I asked him why was he staring at me, and he should not disturb and mind his business. He very rudely replied saying he was checking whether one who was supposed to occupy the berth no. 49 (lower) at AC2 coach at 2.30 AM or not.
But the reality was that the very next station Nellore had already passed and Mr Sudarshan had come after 20 minutes while train was running in full speed and he stood in front of my cubicle looking at me for the last 5 minutes while everyone in the coach were fast asleep. My cubicle being located at the end in the coach have two berths 49 (lower) and 50 (upper). If at all he wanted to check berth no. 49, which was vacant, having found it vacant he should have moved to his position without disturbing and misbehaving with me.
But he continued to talk rudely and hoarsely shouting while people were fast asleep, when I protested his rude attitude, he showed me his official ID hanging in his neck which I did not check and he said, I am quoting his words, ‘‘I did not touch you and why are you shouting, it is my duty to check.’’ Then he went away and after 15 minutes he again came with one of his associates whose picture I have attached. This time Mr Sudarshan was hiding on the left side while on the right, person accompanying him was constantly staring at me as if they wanted to check my handbag kept on my upper berth, they were looking whether I was fast asleep and even I saw Mr Sudarshan slowly trying to touch the chain with which I had locked my bag using water bottle keeping device on the berth.
Having seen him I came down from my berth and shouted at him and asked him as to what was he trying to do, coming at the middle of night at 2.30 am and staring at me again and again and this time he had his friend with him. This time he was quite confident to scold and misbehave with me and in fact he used malicious and threatening language and shouted as if I was travelling without ticket. Being absolutely stunned and shocked, I told him to lodge complaint against him and he rubbishes my idea saying do whatever you want. He had no regret for what he had done and this sort of behaviour from middle-aged TTE was unexpected and shocking.
You being the DRM, I am humbly urging you to investigate this serious issue and want to know as to who told or directed Mr Sudarshan and TTE Mr R R R Rao who boarded the train at Khammam came thrice to look at me whether I was there or not during day time. This is nothing but spying, who has given authority to them to do so. If this matter is not resolved immediately, I will contemplate to take up this matter in the court of law. But I have confidence in you that you will do justice with me without any prejudice.
Date: 13/08/23
Place: Nagpur
Your Sincerely
Philips Joseph
CC to DRM Railway – Nagpur
CC to Salem Railway Station Master
CC to GRPF Station, Nagpur
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