Couple assault woman inspector for asking for platform ticket

A couple bullied and assaulted a woman ticket inspector for slapping a fine on them when they entered the City Railway Station without a platform ticket.

They also threatened to book her under the Prevention of Atrocities Act and falsely accused her of demanding a bribe.

Around 7 pm on January 2, deputy chief ticket inspector B Lalitha (47) stopped a couple walking near the footbridge and elevator at the City Station without platform tickets. Lalitha slapped a fine of Rs 310 each on the couple.

The angry couple demanded to see the orders. Claiming not to have the money to pay the fine, they handed one of their PAN cards and walked away, muttering they would deal with her later.

They returned the following day with four more people and assaulted Lalitha. "They accused me of demanding Rs 1,000 bribe and dragged me to my seniors at the station director's office," the inspector told DH. "Once inside, they again threatened to book a case of atrocity against me."

No one at the office, including her colleagues, came to Lalitha's defence as the couple argued. They eventually walked away without paying the fine. Colleagues took an injured Lalitha to the railway hospital, after which she filed a complaint.

On Tuesday, the City Railway Police booked a case against the couple for criminally assaulting a public servant. They are yet to arrest the couple and maintain that a probe into the incident is on.