Mumbai, Nov 13 (NationPress) The Mumbai Railway Police have taken suo motu action regarding an 'illegal' protest that unfolded at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) by members of the Central Railway Mazdoor Sangh (CRMS). A formal case has been initiated at the CSMT Railway Police Station against two railway personnel, identified as S.K. Dubey and Vivek Sisodia.

As per a statement from the Mumbai Railway Police, the protest occurred on November 6, calling for the retraction of an FIR against two engineers linked to the tragic Mumbra station incident that resulted in five fatalities. The CRMS members organized the demonstration at CSMT without prior approval, which led to accusations of unlawful assembly and breaches of public order and traffic laws.

On the day of the protest, CRMS members conducted a sit-in outside the motorman’s lobby and the Station Manager’s office, causing significant disruption to railway operations and halting local train services for close to an hour.

At approximately 4 p.m., around 100 to 200 railway employees gathered at Milan Hall under the guidance of CRMS president Praveen Vajpayee and subsequently marched in an orderly manner towards the Divisional Railway Manager’s (DRM) office. However, after the official protest concluded around 5:30 p.m., a group of 30 to 40 employees, led by Dubey and Sisodia, reportedly entered the motorman’s lobby at CSMT and initiated an unapproved sit-in protest.

The protesters allegedly obstructed access for motormen, guards, and the Station Manager’s office using iron benches, causing staff to be confined inside and completely disrupting local train services from 5:41 p.m.. This disruption led to overcrowding and confusion among passengers on platforms.

The protest concluded at 6:38 p.m. after the DRM provided assurances, after which train services gradually resumed.

A senior officer commented that the CRMS protest infringed upon existing prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which prohibits gatherings of five or more individuals within the jurisdiction of the Railway Police Commissionerate without prior authorization.

Charges have been filed under Sections 189(2), 190, 127(2), 221, and 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 37(1) and 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act.

Authorities have indicated that the accused individuals will be summoned for questioning soon. Investigators are also looking into who instigated and supported the CRMS members in conducting the protest unlawfully within the station premises. The investigation is currently in progress.