BHUBANESWAR: In an inhuman incident, a transgender was abused by an on-duty Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel in a running train here on Saturday.
The incident occurred when Prasanta Panda alias Meena Kinnar had boarded Rajdhani Express to go to Delhi to attend a seminar on TG rights. Meena, a social worker, was travelling with 25 others including transgenders and women from slums in and around the City. Just after the train departed, Meena went towards the lavatory where she was confronted by Assistant SI U Mohan Rao of the RPF.
According to Meena, Rao first asked her what was she doing on the train. Before she could respond, the ASI abused and pushed her aside. “When I resisted and insisted that I was holding a valid ticket to Delhi, the RPF ASI slapped me,” Meena said.
Perturbed by the aggressive behaviour of Rao, Meena rushed to her seat and sought help from co-passengers who reported the matter to the Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE).
The TTE for B6 (the coach in which Meena was travelling), A Ali recorded the statement of Meena and other passengers.
“Samir Dash, who was accompanying the complainant, informed me about the incident. A report has been submitted to the Commercial Controls at the headquarters,” Ali said. Ali and his colleague RK Tripathy (TTE of the First AC coach) also inquired from Rao about the matter.
The matter will be probed by senior RPF officials after the ASI returns to the City from Bhadrak, sources said.