Subhro Maitra, TNN Aug 13, 2011, 05.24am IST
MALDA: A ticket examiner allegedly molested a teenage girl in a reserved compartment of the Darjeeling Mail on Thursday night when her parents were sleeping just a berth away.
The incident triggered an hour-long ruckus at Malda station as passengers refused to let the train leave unless TTE Sanjib Kumar Singha was arrested. Initially reluctant to arrest Singha, the GRP relented only when a senior official of the district administration intervened. The victim's father, Jalpaiguri resident Goutam Chakraborty, lodged a complaint with police. Singha was charged with molestation but walked out on bail within minutes.
Chakraborty, his wife, and 17-year-old daughter boarded the Kolkata-bound train at New Jalpaiguri station. Chakraborty was woken up by his wife because their daughter was all in tears. She looked shocked and could barely speak. After a lot of consoling, the teenager said the TTE had molested her, touched her private parts and whispered abusive words. Chakraborty sought the help of other passengers, who started looking for the TTE. They found Singha in another compartment and gheraoed him. When the train pulled into Malda Town station, 20 minutes ahead of schedule, the passengers dragged Singha to the platform and started a demonstration.
The GRP seemed reluctant to arrest the TTE who had molested the girl on Darjeeling Mail and the passengers refused to let the train go. The stalemate lasted for almost an hour. Chakraborty called up a relative, who works in a senior post in the Malda administration. He rushed to the station along with some officials. It was on their insistence that the GRP received Chakraborty's complaint and arrested the TTE.
Sanjib Mishra, the GRP station in-charge, said a case has been lodged under Section 354 IPC. However, soon after the train left the station, Singha was given bail.
The TTE, Sanjib Kumar Singha. said he was innocent.
Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-13/kolkata/29883663_1_molested-darjeeling-mail-ticket-examiner