Metro rail GM condemns incident, moral-policing

Kolkata: Two days after a young couple was assaulted by a group of aged passengers for allegedly getting cosy in the Metro, Kolkata Metro Railway has vehemently condemned the act of moral-policing. It however claimed that a probe revealed no concrete evidence about the incident as no complaint came from any of the sides.

On Wednesday Kolkata Metro Railway general manager Ajay Vijayvargiya said, “The Metro railway strongly condemns this undesirable incident which took place at Dum Dum station on April 30. There was an alleged assault on a young couple by co-passengers at around 9.55 pm.” He elaborated, “It was learnt that the couple boarded the Dum Dum bound train from Chandni Chowk station. It was alleged that the couple was assaulted for getting cosy in a public place. At that time no complaint was received either from the couple or any other passenger. However an article was published in a newspaper on May 1.”

Mr Vijayvargiya added, “Since no complaint was lodged after the incident, all CCTV footages were examined. Nothing concrete was found. Preliminary inquiry was ordered at the officer-level to look into the incident. We have no intention to do any moral policing. So we are strongly against it.”

Later a complaint was lodged at the Sinthee police station. Mr Vijayvargiya’s statement came after several youth held a unique demonstration by hugging each other at the Mahanayak Uttam Kumar station in the morning against the incident. They condemned the act of moral policing by some aged commuters who objected to the youth and his lover standing intimately inside the coach.

The group warned the couple for the posture. The couple protested against them but was threatened. When the train reached the Dum Dum station the couple was allegedly dragged out by the group of commuters and was thrashed by them.