A 27-year-old Army jawan from Gujarat was tragically killed earlier this week while traveling on the Jammu Tawi–Sabarmati Express after he allegedly got into a fatal argument with train attendants.
The victim was identified as Jigar Kumar Chaudhary, who was returning home to Gujarat for vacation after completing a field posting. The incident occurred on Sunday night as the train passed through Bikaner district, Rajasthan.
Dispute Escalated Over Seating or Blankets
While details surrounding the cause of the dispute vary, media reports suggest the argument escalated rapidly:
- Some reports indicate the argument was over seating arrangements.
- Other reports claim the dispute arose over blankets and sheets.
According to officials, the verbal fight intensified until one of the train attendants, identified as Zubair Memon, reportedly attacked Chaudhary with a knife. Chaudhary was rushed to Prince Bijay Singh Memorial (PBM) Hospital in Bikaner, where doctors declared him brought dead.
🚨 Police Detain Attendants; NHRC Takes Cognisance
Following the attack, the Railway Police and Government Railway Police (GRP) immediately launched an investigation. They have detained several attendants for questioning and recovered a knife—suspected to be the weapon used in the crime—from the sleeper coach.
A GRP officer was quoted as saying, “Statements of passengers are being recorded, and interrogation of the detained attendants is underway.”
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also taken cognisance of the alleged incident. NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo strongly condemned the incident, emphasizing the failure to protect a soldier. The Commission has issued notices to:
- The Chairman of the Railway Board: Seeking clarification on the admission criteria for railway attendants.
- The Director-General of the Railway Protection Force (RPF): Notifying them and asking for details on the recruitment process, qualification criteria, skill assessments, and police verification of railway attendants.