What Actions Are Being Taken After the Assault on a Vande Bharat Express Passenger?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- A show-cause notice has been issued to MLA Rajiv Singh Parichha.
- The assault incident raises significant concerns about passenger safety.
- CCTV footage of the incident has gone viral, increasing public outrage.
- No formal complaint has been filed by the victim as of now.
- The political fallout from this incident is expected to continue.
Jhansi, June 23 (NationPress) The Uttar Pradesh wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has served a show-cause notice to Babina MLA Rajiv Singh Parichha following a shocking incident that occurred on the New Delhi–Bhopal Vande Bharat Express, where a passenger was reportedly assaulted by individuals believed to be the legislator’s supporters.
This troubling event took place on June 19 at Jhansi railway station and has since provoked widespread condemnation after CCTV footage of the incident became viral across social media, micro-blogging platforms, and various news outlets. IANS has not verified the authenticity of this video.
In light of the viral footage and growing public anger, BJP state general secretary Govind Narayan Shukla issued a formal notice to Parichha, emphasizing that the act constitutes serious indiscipline and requesting a written response within seven days.
The 18-second video reveals a group of men striking and hitting a passenger—identified as Rajkishore—with slippers inside coach E-2 of train number 20172.
The footage also captures MLA Parichha in close proximity during the incident. Reports indicate that the conflict arose over a dispute regarding seat number 49, which had been assigned to Rajkishore.
Parichha, who was accompanied by his wife Kamli Singh (seat No 50) and son Shreyansh Singh (seat No 51), allegedly asked Rajkishore to change seats, allowing the family to sit together.
When the request was refused, tensions soared.
Upon reaching Jhansi station, a group of men purportedly associated with the MLA boarded the train and assaulted the passenger.
Former Madhya Pradesh minister and Congress leader Mukesh Nayak condemned the incident on Instagram, labeling it a grim indicator of "good governance".
He claimed the elderly passenger was left bleeding from the nose due to the attack.
While Parichha has denied any involvement in the assault, asserting that the passenger behaved inappropriately and caused a disturbance, the Government Railway Police (GRP) in Jhansi confirmed that a non-cognizable report (NCR) was filed by the MLA.
Currently, no formal complaint has been made by the victim, who reportedly exited in Bhopal and has shown hesitation in pursuing legal action.
This incident has raised serious alarms regarding passenger safety on India’s flagship high-speed trains.
As the video continues to circulate widely, the political and public repercussions are far from settled.