Family Harassed on Train for Refusing to Chant ‘Jai Shree Ram’

A case has been filed against an unidentified student and a resident of Chembur after a family was harassed on the Madgaon-LTT Express train. The incident occurred before the consecration in Ayodhya, sparking concerns about religious intolerance. The family, travelling with their children, endured a barrage of ‘Jai Shree Ram’ slogans from a group of students who boarded the train at Kankavali. The situation escalated when the students demanded the family chant the slogans as well.

The harassed family, an electrical contractor from Chembur, attempted to seek help from the ticket checker onboard. However, the harassment only ceased temporarily while he was present. After the ticket checker left, the students resumed their actions. The family contacted the railway helpline, but felt neglected by the police present at Panvel railway station. They eventually managed to file an FIR, although it was registered against an unknown person instead of the identified perpetrators. The Chembur family is now attempting to acquire CCTV footage to corroborate their claims.

Pravin Padvi, the senior inspector of Panvel Railway Police, refused to provide details about the students involved. The case has been transferred to the Kankavli police station. Yogesh Chile, the MNS head of Raigad district, claimed to know the students but withheld further information. Chile presented an alternate narrative, stating that the students were playing ‘antakshari’, a popular musical game, when the argument broke out. He alleged that the Chembur resident instigated the clash by taking issue with their choice of song lyrics.

The case has been registered against the ‘unidentified person’ under relevant sections of the IPC, including unlawful assembly, intentional insult, and criminal intimidation. The Chembur man, on the other hand, faces charges for assault, causing hurt, intentional insult, and criminal intimidation. The incident highlights the need to address religious intolerance and protect individuals from harassment based on their beliefs.