After a video of a Traveling Ticket Examiner (TTE) hitting a passenger aboard a UP train went viral on social media, Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw issued a statement saying there is “zero tolerance for such misconduct”. The incident took place on the Barauni-Lucknow Express on Thursday. The viral video showed the TTE hitting the passenger repeatedly while asking him to stand up. He was also seen violently pulling the passenger's muffler and verbally abusing him for traveling without a ticket.
Reacting to the incident, the railway minister on Thursday said there would be zero tolerance for such misconduct. He also said that the TTE has been suspended.
Zero tolerance for such misconduct, TTE is suspended. https://t.co/MycVdbzw5i
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) January 18, 2024
Besides, the official contact of the Divisional Railway Manager, Lucknow Division, North Eastern Railway (DRM/LJN) also responded to the incident.
“The TTE involved has been suspended by the competent authority and an investigation has been initiated against the person concerned,” the spokesperson said Railway official tweeted.
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In the video, the TTE can be seen hitting the passenger repeatedly while asking him to get up. At one point he is also seen violently pulling on the passenger's muffler to get him to stand up. During his ordeal, the passenger can be heard asking: “mera koi galti hi, sir (What's my fault, sir)”.
The man recording the video can also be heard asking TTE: “but kyu rahe ho (Why are you hitting him)” and then “ticket doge tum (Would you like to give me the card)?
After the video went viral on social media, the North Eastern Railway also confirmed that the TTE had been suspended with immediate effect.