Janta Express Chain Snatching: Amethi Police Refuse Complaint
A woman traveling on Janta Express had her chain snatched, but Amethi railway police refused to file her complaint, citing jurisdictional issues.
A festive journey intended for homecoming turned into a distressing ordeal for a passenger on the Janta Express. During the Diwali season, a woman fell victim to a brazen chain-snatching incident while traveling, only to face further frustration from the authorities upon reaching her destination.
Festive Journey Turns Into Nightmare
The victim, identified as Mamta, was traveling from Dehradun to Amethi to celebrate the Diwali festival. While she was on board the Janta Express, unidentified perpetrators managed to snatch her chain and quickly flee the scene. The incident left the passenger shaken during what should have been a joyous holiday period.
Jurisdiction Issues Leave Victim Helpless
Upon arriving at the Amethi railway station, Mamta immediately sought assistance from the local railway police outpost to report the crime. However, instead of receiving support, she was met with bureaucratic hurdles.
The constable on duty at the outpost refused to register her formal complaint. The officer informed her that because the crime occurred inside a moving train, the Amethi outpost did not have the jurisdiction to file the case. According to the officer, she was required to travel to Pratapgarh to lodge the report at the station located there.
A Systemic Failure for Passengers
Faced with the daunting task of traveling further to Pratapgarh just to report a crime, Mamta decided against it. The inconvenience of additional travel led her to return home without being able to file any official complaint or pursue legal action against the thieves.
The GRP outpost in-charge defended the decision, stating that standard procedure dictates that crimes committed within trains must be registered at the police station corresponding to the station where the jurisdiction lies, which in this instance was Pratapgarh. This incident has sparked significant concerns regarding passenger security and the ease of accessing justice for crimes committed on Indian Railways, especially during the heavy rush of the festive season.