Rail 'harassment' over coins

The complainant, Rathin Sikdar, and the booking clerk

ABHIJEET CHATTERJEE, TT, Dec 22, 2017, Durgapur: A rail booking clerk allegedly misbehaved with a passenger at Durgapur, refusing to take Rs 10 in coins of rupees one and two while herself forcing a rush-hour passenger to accept Rs 70 in coins of the same value.

The problem began when the clerk claimed she did not have change for Rs 100 for a ticket of Rs 30 at one of Bengal's most prominent stations.

Rathin Sikdar recorded the Thursday morning altercation on his mobile. "The fare was Rs 30 and I initially gave the clerk Rs 100. But she asked for the exact fare," said the private firm technician who was headed to Rampurhat on urgent official work.

Sikdar then gave two Rs 10 notes and rest in coins of Re 1 and Rs 2 but the clerk refused to take them again. "I told her coins are not banned and asked why would she not accept them? But she started abusing and mocking me," said Sikdar.

It was around 6.30am and Sikdar's train was to arrive soon. "The clerk then asked me to give her the Rs 100 note and gave me back Rs 70 in one-rupee coins. I asked her why she would not accept Rs 10 in coins but give back a passenger Rs 70 in one-rupee coins? But with little time, I had to accept the coins," said Sikdar. He later uploaded the clip of the tiff on Facebook and it soon turned viral.

Divisional rail manager P.K. Mishra has ordered a probe. "If anyone is guilty, action will be taken," said Rupayan Mitra, PRO of the Asansol rail division.