Manhandling: Ouster of PAC member urged

SROA (Southern Railway Officer’s Association) had petitioned former railway GM Vashista Johri who retired last month, demanding action against Mohammed Irfan Ahamed for manhandling K V Sreedharan, manager of Tiruchirappalli station on September 28, 2017, when the PAC had inspected the junction.  

The inspection or rather the incident hit the headlines after local TV channels flashed footages of Mohammed Irfan allegedly dragging Sreedharan by his neck and pushing him towards a drinking water tap on platform 6 in full public view during the inspection. 

Though railway uses’ associations were first to oppose the ‘unacceptable’ behaviour of the PAC member, SROA and SR Promoted Officers Association (SRPOA) held a joint meeting the same day and resolved to demand the immediate removal of the member from PAC. 

On September 30, the last working day of the retired GM, SROA officer-bearers here had met him and complained about the incident. The retired GM was understood to have awarded the complaint to New Delhi. 

Meanwhile, Ashwani Lohani, chairman of Railway Board, had personally contacted the victim (SMR Sreedharan) and assured him of justice. A senior SR officer privy to the development told DT Next on condition of anonymity that the board chairman had learnt about the incident only after reports related to the incident were posted on social media. 

“While consoling the station manager, the chairman had indeed admitted that the PAC member’s behaviour was unacceptable and uncalled for. We expect the ministry to reprimand the errant PAC member by removing him from the committee. It would set a bad precedence, if they (board and ministry) merely offer words of consolation,” said the senior SR officer, adding that PAC member was right in questioning service deficiency, but he had no right to touch, let alone drag the officer or any employee for that matter.