A 32-year-old Delhi Metro security guard, Pankaj Dhama, died after being assaulted by a group of passengers at Shahdara railway station on Saturday morning. Eight individuals seen in a viral video attacking him have been detained.
Incident Details
Pankaj Dhama was returning to his village in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh, after completing his night shift at IP Extension Metro Station. According to police, the altercation began when passengers attempted to board the Yoga Express at Shahdara station, and Dhama was allegedly standing at the doorway obstructing entry. The argument escalated into a physical assault.
However, Dhama's family provided a different account. They stated that he was attacked while trying to deboard the train at Shahdara to catch a connecting train to his hometown. His father, Rajender Dhama, alleged that the attackers did not allow his son to get off and assaulted him.
Police and Family Versions
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Railways) Bharat Reddy said, “Upon reaching the spot, it was found that Pankaj had been severely assaulted by fellow passengers while attempting to board the Yoga Express.” Dhama was taken to a hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.
Rajender Dhama recounted that he was on his way to his farmland when he received a call from a guard who knew Pankaj. They unlocked his phone using his thumbprint and informed him about his son's condition.
Video Evidence and Response
A video of the incident later surfaced online, showing a group of men thrashing Pankaj on the platform, with a uniformed official visible nearby. The attackers then left him on the platform and boarded the Haridwar-bound Yoga Express. The father alleged that Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel present failed to intervene in time or arrange immediate medical assistance, saying, “He was left lying on the platform for a long time.”
Northern Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay disputed the family's allegations. He stated, “At the time of the incident, a police constable intervened and separated both parties. Thereafter, the injured person, who had become unconscious, was taken to the nearest hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The accused have been taken into police custody. Legal proceedings are underway.” Police confirmed that an RPF constable had intervened and attempted to defuse the situation.
Victim's Background and Aftermath
Pankaj Dhama was the breadwinner of his family, survived by his wife, a six-year-old son, and a one-and-a-half-year-old daughter. His brother demanded the death penalty for the accused and stated, “There were personnel present there, but he did not get any help. If timely assistance had been provided, he might have survived.”
An RPF officer said they received information at 6:03 am and rushed the victim to the hospital. “After the incident, the youths boarded the Haridwar-bound train and fled the station. They were later tracked down and detained at Muzaffarnagar railway station,” the officer added. A case has been registered. A DMRC official noted that security guards are outsourced through agencies.
