Attack on West Bengal Participants at Bhusawal Station Ahead of National Unity Day

Bhusawal, October 30 (Daily Kiran) : A group of participants from West Bengal heading to Gujarat for the National Unity Day celebrations faced an attack at Bhusawal Railway Station on Friday. The incident, which left several individuals injured, has raised concerns among the traveling group.

According to the Bhusawal Railway Police, a complaint has been filed, and multiple individuals have been taken into custody for questioning. The investigation is ongoing.

Nirmalendu Mahato, a resident of Jhargram district, reported that he was traveling with a special train carrying 99 people selected by the district administration to attend the event. When their train stopped at Bhusawal Station, some passengers disembarked to stretch their legs after the long journey. Mahato and his daughter decided to buy bananas from a vendor on the platform. While his daughter went to put the bananas in their compartment, Mahato remained on the platform.

As he began recording a video of the station, Mahato claimed an elderly man approached him, demanding he stop filming. When he inquired about the reason, a group of others quickly joined, escalating the situation. Concerned for his daughter’s safety, Mahato attempted to send her back to the train but was pushed from behind.

Seeing the commotion, his companions protested, leading to a minor altercation. Administrative and police officials accompanying the group tried to de-escalate the situation. Mahato later reported that the same man returned with over 20 others and launched a physical attack on them. He stated that at least a dozen members of their group sustained injuries to their faces, shoulders, backs, and other areas.

Despite the chaos, the group managed to board the train and contacted the Railway Protection Force (RPF). Injured participants received first aid at the next station, where they also filed a complaint with the railway police. Upon their arrival in Vadodara, they underwent medical examinations.

Mahato noted that senior police officials from Bhusawal arrived in Vadodara that evening to gather information from the victims. A Deputy Superintendent of Police from West Bengal, who was traveling with the group, also provided details of the incident to local authorities.

Authorities have indicated that they have identified and detained seven suspects involved in the attack, with further actions anticipated as the investigation progresses. A senior police officer mentioned that the assailants are believed to be illegal vendors, a problem that the Central Railway has been tackling in recent months.

Despite efforts to remove hundreds of illegal hawkers from various stations, they often return to the premises. Initial assessments suggest that the assailants may have felt threatened by the video recording, fearing that their activities would be captured on camera, prompting the attack on the passengers.

While the investigation continues, the incident has dampened the spirits of those heading to participate in the national program.