THRISSUR: The passengers of the Ernakulam Shoranur Passenger have said the train's unusual timing was the reason why people, particularly women, prefer to avoid travel in the train.
The train takes almost two hours to reach Shoranur from Thrissur, while one can reach the same destination by road in an hour.
Passengers allege that this was the reason why the girl was brutally attacked as she was alone in the compartment. "While express trains take just 25 to 40 minutes to travel from Thrissur to Shoranur, it takes an hour and 53 minutes to reach Shoranur from Thrissur in the Eranakulam Shoranur passenger train. The train arrives at Thrissur station at 7.27 p.m. and reaches Shoranur at 9.20 p.m., provided it runs on time," a woman traveller said.
"Railways cannot wash their hands off by saying it is a passenger train, as almost all other passenger trains travelling between Thrissur and Shoranur take an hour at the most," she added. She said the women's compartment would be deserted even on weekends.
As Shoranur Junction is one of the busiest railway stations in South India, the train makes many stops for crossing after it has crossed Thrissur. The train even stops at the bushy outer areas of Shoranur, which makes it easy for antisocial people to enter the train and attack passengers, passengers said. Railway sources said the train was being delayed, as the cash collected from passengers have to be deposited in the cash chest placed in the guard's room from every station. "The cash collected from the passenger train travelers has to be submitted everyday. It takes up to six minutes to settle the deposit at every station," a source from the Railways said. Even on the day the girl was attacked, the guard had collected the cash from the station master and duty staff at the Vallathol Nagar. They, however, did not see Charley, the accused in the case, entering the compartment in which she was sitting.
Protest against Railways
Protesting against the incident in which a 23yearold girl was attacked by a man in Eranakulam Shoranur Passenger train on Tuesday night, passengers, political parties and social organisations have decided to stage protest dharnas in the coming days.
On Thursday, DYFI activists held a march to the railway station. The Youth Congress would stage a dharna on Friday.
All the major political parties have criticised the laxity on the part of the Railways, RPF and GRP.