Rs 1 lakh damages for cruelty on train

TT, New Delhi, June 1: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today directed the railways to pay Rs 1 lakh as compensation to a man beaten up and hanged upside down from the window of a moving train for four hours by some fellow passengers last year.

The Railway Board chairman has been asked to submit a compliance report along with proof of payment to Sumit Kachhi within six weeks from day the directive is received. Kachhi suffered the "extreme cruelty" on the Patliputra Express while it was on way from Jabalpur to Itarsi in Madhya Pradesh on March 25, 2016.

The NHRC had last year taken suo motu cognisance of the incident on the basis of news reports and sought a report from the railway authorities. Subsequently, Madhya Pradesh police had booked three of the alleged perpetrators. Their trial is pending.

The NHRC had during its inquiry also found that three police personnel - an assistant sub-inspector from the GRP and a sub-inspector and constable from the RPF - were suspended for negligence. Some rail officials were also indicted.

"The victim, Sumit Kachhi, was subjected to extreme cruelty by some fellow travellers but the officials of the GRP/RPF and the railways failed to take note of it. Hence, a case of violation of human rights is made out and the railway department cannot escape its liability to compensate him," the NHRC said. The commission expressed the hope that appropriate disciplinary action shall be taken against the officials.