Man asks co-passenger to cease smoking, gets thrashed

Requesting a co-passenger to cease smoking in train proved costly for a 45-year-old man as the smoker and his friends allegedly thrashed him and pelted stones at him.

The victim received injuries to his face and an eye, but is out of danger, said police. The five assailants got off at Sadar Bazar station and fled once they realised that the victim was going to be approaching police.

While a case of assault and wrongful restraint has been registered, the suspects remain unidentified.

Police have learnt that the suspects regularly board the Shaheed Express train at Sampla in Haryana and get off at Sadar Bazar railway station. The victim has claimed he can identify the suspects if paraded before him.

The victim Harban Singh, a resident of Rohtak, makes frequent work-related visits to the income tax office in Delhi’s ITO. He prefers the Shaheed Express train and gets off at Tilak Bridge station.

On Friday, an unknown person who happens to be his frequent co-passenger, lit a beedi, much to Harban’s dismay.

“I requested him with folded hands not to smoke in the compartment. Instead of obliging, the passenger threatened to throw me out of the train which would save me from smoke forever,” said Harban.

When Harban made repeated requests, the man and his four friends allegedly launched a physical assault on his face.

The victim claimed serious injury to one eye because of the assault. He also alleged that they took off his turban and pulled his hair.

As Sadar Bazar station arrived, Harbans began getting off the train to lodge a complaint.
However, the five men allegedly pelted stones at him in a bid to keep him restricted inside the compartment while they fled.

Harban then called the police control room and informed about the incident while he went to Lady Hardinge Hospital for treatment. Police met him at the hospital and took down his statement for lodging a complaint.