5 MEN ATTACK GATEMAN AT RLY CROSSING IN PANIPAT

KARNAL: Five unidentified persons allegedly manhandled a gateman and vandalised the signal machine of a railway crossing on a Delhi-Amritsar rail line at Diwana village of Panipat district on early Tuesday morning.

As per the police complaint filed by the victim, Neeraj Kumar, of the district, the accused came in a car around 5.30am on Tuesday and asked him to open the gate. He alleged that they manhandled him when he refused to open the gate, citing his limitations of duty. He said they also damaged the emergency panel of the railway crossing.

Neeraj said he managed to escape and informed the Government Railway Police (GRP).

Later, a team of railway officials and railway police reached the spot and recorded Neeraj’s statement. The damage to the emergency signal panel also caused inconvenience to the railways and the rail traffic as the officials had to give signal on phone before the panel was restored by 9am.

Panipat GRP police station in-charge Raj Kumar said the police have registered an FIR as per Neeraj’s statement against five unknown persons under Sections 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 353 (assault) of the IPC and section 174 of the Railway Act. Raj said that they had found clues that hinted that the accused belonged to Diwana village and the police teams are conducting raids to arrest him. Panipat Railway Station in-charge Dheeraj Kapoor said investigation has been ordered in the case.

Member of the Uttar Railway Mazdoor Union Pradeep Malik demanded the authorities to install CCTV cameras at the railway crossings to ensure safety of gateman and prompt action against the accused.