One hurt, another in jail after fight over train seat

The horrific travails of train commuters are now urban legend. But, we are nevertheless surprised or disgusted every time there is another display of appalling behaviour on our teeming locals.

On Wednesday, a commuter in a fit of rage hit a fellow traveller on the head with a bag containing electrical items, leaving him bloodied and unconscious -- all because of a seat.

The incident took place around 6.50 pm. Devendra Shukla, 48, resident of Bandra, boarded the luggage compartment of a Bandra local on the Harbour Line from CST at 6.30 pm. As usual, the compartment was full. 

As the train was chugging towards Reay Road, Shukla and the other commuter Ankur Padhi, 48, a resident of Antop Hill, got into a heated argument over sharing a seat. Between Cotton Green and Sewri stations, shaking with fury, Padhi hit Shukla on the head with the bag he was carrying. Bleeding profusely from the head, Shukla soon fell unconscious.

Shocked commuters summoned the railway police at Sewri station, who rushed Shukla to Sion  Hospital. Padhi, too, was handed over to the railway police. 

"We arrested Ankur Padhi under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the IPC and produced him before the CST railway court on Thursday. He has been remanded in police custody," said senior police inspector KB Gavit of Wadala railway police station.