The railway union protesters on Thursday had barricaded the motormen`s lobby area with benches from outside and also used their lanyards to secure doors, completely blocking the movement of those who run trains.
The motormen, who operate suburban local trains, had no role to play in the protest, but their movement was hindered by protesters. A viral video on social media showed the blocked door and protesters.
The disruption between 5.50 pm and 6.45 pm on Thursday led to complete chaos at all stations and the eventual deaths of two passengers.
Speaking to mid-day, Central Railway Mazdoor Sangh President Praveen Bajpai refuted the allegation completely. “We did not stop the motormen from operating trains. After the planned protest and speeches were over, the protesters dispersed and probably again gathered in the CSMT [Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus] lobby area when this must have happened. We had no role to play in it. Our protest was against the FIR. The FIR filed against the railway engineers was unfair and based on an incorrect report. A team from the VJTI Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute visited the accident site a month later and compiled data, and there are discrepancies in the report, based on which the FIR has been filed,” the trade union leader said.
CR investigation
Central Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer Dr Swapnil Nila said the CR headquarters had sought a report from the Mumbai division on the protest and the disruption of suburban local train services in the evening peak hour on Thursday.
Asked who gave the NOC and nod for the protest, railway officials said the permission was for a demonstration to be held at the divisional railway office, not the station. “The permission was only for protesters to gather and hand over a petition to the divisional railway manager. The agitation happened after the protest was over,” a CR official said.
Passenger associations blasted the railway unions, calling their actions “serious obstruction of essential services” and demanding action against them.
Media-shy managers
General Manager Vijay Kumar and Divisional Railway Manager Hiresh Mina have remained mum on the issue and both avoided the media on Friday. When journalists went to meet them, Mina made them wait for nearly an hour and then refused to meet, saying the media should take comments from the chief public relations officer. Similarly, General Manager Vijay Kumar`s security guards slammed the door refusing to meet media personnel.
5.50 pm to 6.45 pm
Period of Thursday’s rail disruption
