The Government Railway Police (GRP) has filed a case against office-bearers and 40 supporters of the Central Railway Mazdoor Sangh (CRMS) for staging an illegal protest at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) last week, news agency PTI reported.
The November 6 protest had halted Mumbai suburban train operations for nearly an hour. The union members were demanding the revocation of a first information report (FIR) filed against two engineers linked to the June 9 Mumbra train tragedy, which claimed five lives.
The flash strike left thousands of commuters stranded, forcing many to walk along the tracks. Tragically, two people were hit by a train near Sandhurst Road Railway Station, while three others sustained injuries. The protesters had gathered at CSMT between 5.30 pm and 6.30 pm, raising slogans against the GRP Director General. Police noted that prohibitory orders banning gatherings of five or more people were already in place and that demonstrators attempted to prevent railway staff, including motormen, guards, and station managers, from performing their duties.
Given the seriousness of the incident, the GRP registered cases against CRMS office-bearers SK Dubey and Vivek Shisodia, along with other protesters, under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Railway unions, however, claimed the protest was partially spontaneous, with some employees staging the sit-in near the motormen and guard lobby.
Central Railway authorities have sought detailed reports on the agitation and emphasised fixing accountability for the fatalities. Commuters had expressed outrage over the flash strike, blaming union actions for endangering lives and causing widespread disruption.
About the Mumbra train tragedy
On June 9, two trains—one bound for Kasara and the other for CSMT—passed each other on a sharp curve, resulting in passengers falling onto the tracks due to overcrowding. Following an investigation, Thane Railway Police booked a senior section engineer and a section engineer under Section 125(a)(b) of the BNS for acts endangering life or personal safety. The engineers maintained in court that overcrowding, not negligence, led to the mishap.
A compensation of Rs 5 lakh each has been announced for the families of the five victims of the Mumbra train tragedy.
(With PTI inputs)
