A madrasa student travelling from Meerut to Deoband in Uttar Pradesh was allegedly assaulted and abused by a group of youths on a moving train on Saturday night.
The student, identified as Mohammad Muntazir, is a resident of Deoli Kheda village in Meerut’s Sardhana area and is studying at Darul Uloom Deoband in Saharanpur district.
According to his complaint filed with Khatauli police, Muntazir boarded the Meerut Cantt-Deoband passenger train on Saturday evening. He alleged that around 10 to 12 young men were already inside the coach and were openly consuming alcohol.
The complaint states that when the train was travelling between Daurala and Sakauti, the youths allegedly began targeting Muntazir after noticing his beard and traditional attire.
Alleged Forced Drinking and Assault
Muntazir alleged that the men grabbed his beard, used communal slurs and tried to force him to drink alcohol.
“They tried to forcibly make me drink alcohol. When I resisted, they thrashed me,” he said in his complaint.
The student reportedly tried to move to another coach to avoid the confrontation. However, he alleged that the group followed him, stopped him and took his bag.
He further alleged that two of the men dragged him towards a window of the moving train and tried to throw him outside.
Muntazir raised an alarm, following which other passengers intervened and helped him. The accused allegedly got off the train at Sakauti station and threatened him before leaving.
The student later got down at Khatauli station and informed the police.
Police Begin Investigation
Khatauli police inspector Dinesh Baghel confirmed that the student’s complaint had been received.
“The student’s complaint has been taken. We are verifying the facts, checking CCTV footage from Sakauti and Khatauli stations, and trying to identify the accused. Action will be taken based on the investigation,” Baghel said.
Police have begun checking CCTV footage and other evidence to identify those involved. No arrests had been reported at the time of filing.
The case is expected to involve relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita concerning assault, wrongful restraint or confinement, theft and criminal intimidation, along with provisions of the Railways Act concerning alcohol consumption on railway premises.
Questions Over Railway Security
The incident has also raised questions about security on the train. Muntazir said there was no Government Railway Police or Railway Protection Force personnel present in the coach despite the alleged consumption of alcohol and confrontation taking place among passengers.
The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of madrasa students and other passengers travelling on the Meerut-Deoband route.
After learning about the incident, AIMIM district president Imran Qasmi reportedly reached Khatauli station with supporters and demanded the swift identification and arrest of those responsible.
Police said the facts of the incident, the identities of the accused and the exact motive are still being investigated.
