‘Lucky’ subway-shove vic

Injured MTA worker missed 3rd rail, suspect arrested

A Christmas Eve graveyard shift nearly killed a veteran transit worker.

Station manager Kumar Narinder, 70, suffered a fractured spine and head injuries after being hurled to the Brooklyn subway tracks by a crazed fare-beater — barely missing the electrified third rail in the 2 a.m. Dec. 24 attack.

“If my hand touched the third rail, I was no more,” the still-rattled Narinder said of the terrifying assault. “I am lucky ... everything hurts. It’s very painful.”

Jhonathan Martinez, 27, lunged at Narinder after he was stopped from boarding a train during the 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. stretch when city subways are closed to all but first responders and transit workers with identification, according to court papers.

The suspect was indicted Tuesday on charges of first-degree attempted assault, reckless

Transit station agent Kumar Narinder (right) was injured his back when he was pushed to subway tracks Christmas Eve. With him is transit union official Robert Kelley. endangerment, criminal trespass and harassment, the Brooklyn district attorney’s office said.

He was held on $50,000 bail and faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the top count, the DA’s office said.

Transport Workers

Union

Local 100 Vice President Robert Kelley argued Martinez deserved even stiffer charges.

“This was attempted murder,” said Kelley. “This guy should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. It’s only by the grace of God that Kumar is still with us today.”

Narinder — in uniform and inside the station clerk’s booth — watched as Martinez ignored his warnings that the station was closed, jumped the turnstile and headed to the tracks, according to court papers.

A conductor blocked Martinez from boarding the train, and the suspect was still there when Narinder came down to the platform.

Martinez quickly turned on Narinder, blocking the man from leaving the platform before tossing him onto the tracks, the papers said. Police officers in the station quickly pulled the victim to safety before cuffing Martinez.

The suspect also told Narinder that he was COVID-19-positive and threatened to infect the station employee, according to court papers.

“Lower your mask,” Martinez ordered before shoving the victim, the complaint said. “I have corona. I’m going to give you corona.”

Narinder works as a roving employee, traveling from station to station so his colleagues can take their meal breaks, said union officials. Five days after the attack, the 20-year transit veteran said he was still in extreme pain.