JOIN USA Delhi Home Guard deployed as a marshal on a Delhi Transport Corporation bus was attacked with a knife by a youth who allegedly protested against vacating a seat reserved for women.
The incident happened outside Malviya Nagar Metro station in south Delhi on Wednesday. A case has been registered, but no arrest has been made so far.
On Thursday, the marshal sounded confident of resuming duty soon, but the incident has shown that personnel deployed to help women themselves need some protection.
Sources said the Delhi Home Guards have been barred from detaining anybody or carrying baton on the bus in an order issued by a senior officer.
On Wednesday, 28-year-old Rajbir Singh was deployed on bus route 534 from Anand Vihar ISBT to Mehrauli from 1.30 pm to 8 pm.
In his statement, Rajbir told police that the accused boarded the bus from Anand Vihar ISBT. “The man sat on a seat reserved for women due to which I requested him to vacate it. He refused,” Rajbir told Deccan Herald.
Soon, some women boarded the bus and they also asked the man to leave the seat. He, however, kept sitting there. “As the women had been standing for quite a while, I went to the man and forcibly made him leave the seat. I offered the seat to a woman. The man was furious with my act and threatened me with dire consequences,” Rajbir added.
It is alleged that the man then kept staring at Rajbir during the rest of the journey. The bus was about to reach Malviya Nagar bus stop when it appeared as if the man would leave the bus.
“The accused walked a few steps and then whipped out a knife to attack Rajbir without any warning. Rajbir tried to grab the knife due to which he suffered slash wounds on his right hand,” said a police officer.
The bus driver and conductor tried to intervene, but the man managed to flee. Rajbir was taken to the AIIMS trauma centre for treatment. “I was made to wait for over two hours for treatment,” Rajbir said.
On the basis of his complaint, a case under sections 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions) and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered with Saket police station.
As the man was carrying a knife on the bus, police suspect that he may be a criminal, possibly a pickpocket. Rajbir, who hails from Uttarakhand and lives in Ghaziabad, is among 1,000 Delhi Home Guards deployed on DTC buses since last month. They are part of 2,000 guards, who have been relieved by Delhi Police and are scheduled to be deployed on buses in the first phase.
Deployment of marshals on buses has been one of the major recommendations of experts for improving women security. The initiative has also been one of the poll promises of the Aam Aadmi Party. Currently, the home guards report to DTC’s regional managers.
DH News Service