Chaos and violence disrupted the busy Yeshwantpur railway station in Bengaluru on Monday evening after a group of passengers allegedly pulled the emergency alarm chain of a moving train and subsequently assaulted Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel who tried to intervene.
Incident Details: Chain Pulling Leads to Confrontation
The incident occurred around 3 PM on the Yeshwantpur-Vasco da Gama Express. According to officials, the alarm chain was pulled in the S3 coach. A group of 14 youngsters from Bengaluru, reportedly travelling to Goa, took this drastic step in a bid to stop the train so their friends, who were running late, could board.
RPF staff stationed on the platform immediately rushed to the coach upon receiving the alert. However, when they attempted to apprehend those responsible, the situation quickly escalated. The group, allegedly believing they could overpower the officers due to their numbers, turned violent.
RPF Response and Arrests
Shreyans Chinchawade, the senior divisional security commissioner of RPF, confirmed that three individuals from the group have been arrested so far. A formal case has been registered under the relevant sections of the GRP Act 1989 and the Railways Act 1989 for the unnecessary pulling of the alarm chain, an act that causes significant disruption to rail services.
"Co-passengers in the coach told me the group had pulled the chain, and as soon as our staff tried to apprehend them, they thought they could overpower us because they were a group. But then extra force was called and we were able to apprehend them," a senior RPF officer stated. The officer added that one RPF personnel sustained minor injuries during the scuffle and has received medical treatment.
Investigation and Viral Fallout
The Government Railway Police (GRP), which is also investigating the case, suspects that the miscreants were under the influence of alcohol. However, official medical confirmation is still pending.
The incident gained widespread attention after a video capturing the chaos on the crowded platform went viral on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). A user named @WithLoveIndiaa, who posted the clip, claimed that the group pulled the chain repeatedly, forcing the train to halt every ten seconds, which amplified the disruption and panic.
This event highlights the serious consequences of misusing emergency train equipment, which not only endangers safety but also leads to legal action. The Railways Act prescribes strict penalties for such offences to deter passengers from causing unwarranted delays and endangering rail operations.
