BENGALURU: A violent altercation between a group of unauthorized vendors and railway pantry staff aboard the Yeshwantpur-Hazrat Nizamuddin Sampark Kranti Express has left two people injured. The incident occurred near Haveri around 7 pm on Monday.
Argument Escalates into Stabbing
The conflict began when pantry worker Dhirendra Singh, 40, confronted an unauthorized vendor selling masala peanuts in an AC coach. According to Dhirendra's complaint to the Government Railway Police (GRP), about five individuals, believed to be associates of the vendor, rushed to support him.
As Dhirendra's manager, Jitendra Singh Tomar, arrived, the situation escalated. The assailants pulled out sharp knives. "These people tried to stab Dhirendra. He narrowly escaped but got a cut on his neck and started bleeding," Jitendra told TOI.
Two Staff Members Stabbed
Another pantry staffer, Lokendra, was stabbed near his left shoulder, causing heavy bleeding. When the train stopped at Karjagi station for a crossing, the vendor group disembarked and fled. "Not just me, they attacked everyone in our team ... two of us were stabbed, and the rest of the staff were beaten up. Goods were snatched from one of the staff members. For me, the knife went all the way in," said Jitendra.
GRP Investigation Underway
GRP has registered an FIR against unknown men based in Haveri. "Our team is looking for them. The staff who suffered minor injuries have gone back home," said Sarah Fathima, SP, GRP Karnataka.
Crackdown on Illegal Vendors
The presence of illegal vendors on trains is a serious concern for the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). Following complaints, it initiated a national crackdown earlier this month, shutting down 14 illegal websites. In South Western Railway's Bengaluru division, fines amounting to around Rs 1.5 lakh were collected from unauthorized vendors in May during a special drive.
