Mumbai: A 17-year-old schoolgirl travelling alone on a suburban train was allegedly taken between several railway stations by railway personnel following a dispute over an AC travel fare and was eventually left at Wadala Road, according to a complaint filed by her parents with Central Railway. The railway, however, said its enquiry found no evidence that the minor was deliberately abandoned.The Class 12 student from Nerul-Seawoods had boarded Train No. 98119 AC Local from Seawoods to Mansarovar on Sept 11. Her parents said she was carrying a valid first-class ticket but was unaware that a separate travel authority was required for AC travel. She was wearing her school uniform, they said.According to the complaint, a ticket examiner stopped the girl and demanded Rs 675. She did not have the money and called her father using a basic mobile phone without internet access. Her father said he was willing to pay any legitimate railway dues and asked to speak directly to the official so that payment could be made through an authorised mechanism.The parents allege that the ticket examiner repeatedly refused to speak to the father or properly identify himself. They later learnt that he was Rajendra Tribhuvan. Concerned about his identity, the father asked his daughter to photograph him.When the train reached Mansarovar, the girl’s mother was travelling to the station to collect her. The parents said they informed the railway personnel that she was on her way and requested that their daughter be allowed to get down. Instead, they allege, she was taken onwards to Panvel.At Panvel, a woman RPF officer became involved. The parents allege that she initially refused to identify herself and spoke to the father harshly. They later identified her as Trushula Dhumal. The parents said they were told the girl would be taken to Belapur, but she was subsequently taken to Wadala Road.The mother followed by another train. The parents allege that the girl was left at Wadala Road without the alleged fine being collected and without being handed over to her mother or another responsible adult.The girl’s father said his daughter had since undergone a counselling session to help her overcome the trauma. “I spoke to her today and understood that the constable handled her like a criminal,” he said, questioning the manner in which a minor carrying a valid First Class ticket was treated.Lata Argade of Upbagariya Pravasi Sangh said the matter required the attention of the Railway Ministry and strict action against the TTE. “The girl was carrying a valid first class ticket and she should have been counselled and let go. I have seen many unauthorised railway personnel taking AC local with valid ticket but TTEs never act against them,” she said.Central Railway said the ticket-checking staff was on authorised duty and that the passenger had been travelling in the AC local without the requisite AC travel authority. The applicable dues were sought through the prescribed HHT QR payment mechanism, but payment could not be completed within the validity period.CR said the matter was brought to the attention of lady RPF staff and supervisory officers at Panvel. After the passenger was identified as a minor, instructions were issued for her safe handover at Wadala Road. According to CR, she was handed over to a railway employee/train manager who represented that he was known to the family, in the presence of RPF and other railway staff.The railway said the staff concerned have been counselled to exercise greater care in similar situations, communicate with parents or guardians wherever practicable and ensure a properly verified handover of minor passengers.The girl’s name has been withheld as she is a minor.
