'RPF men caught me for peeing, thrashed me, robbed Rs 8,500'

The 50-yr-old Railway guard, who is now recuperating in Kalyan Railway hospital, claims he was beaten senseless by the officials and some local goons near Kolsewadi

Perhaps Anil Kumar Sharma deserved a warp on the wrist for answering nature's call in the open. He claims he got much more than that. The 50-year-old railway guard has filed a police complaint against four Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel for allegedly beating him up and robbing Rs 8,500 from him. Sharma is currently recuperating at Kalyan Railway Hospital.


Battered and bruised: Anil Kumar Sharma (50) is currently
recovering at Kalyan Railway Hospital. (below) A copy of the
complaint filed by Sharma against the accused. Pics/Navneet Barhate

The victim narrated the incident to MiD DAY. Sharma is a goods' train guard attached to Panvel station. About 3.30 pm on Saturday he was returning to his home in Kalyan (East). He stopped to take a leak near a tunnel. A plainclothes man, claiming to be an RPF officer, interrupted Sharma and asked him why he was urinating there. Sharma replied that many passersby used this place for the very purpose. Sharma said, the man then forcibly took him to a nearby room, where two other RPF officials were having lunch and drinks.



Cashing in
According to Sharma, the officials thrashed him badly and then seized Rs 8,500 from his pocket. "I told them that I too was a government employee. But they did not listen to me. I also pleaded with them that the money was for my son's college fees. That did not have any effect either. One of them phoned my wife and demanded Rs 5,000 more. They told her that they would release her husband only when the money was paid," said Sharma.

Later, two more plainclothes men appeared. They claimed to be cops, but Sharma said he recognised them. He claimed they run an auto rickshaw stand near the tunnel. The duo then allegedly thrashed Sharma with wooden sticks, and he lost consciousness.

After five hours, Sharma came back to his senses. The accused then took him to the railway police station nearby. There, his son Gaurav - who had arrived after the phone call made to his mother - told him that he had spoken to a top railway officer, who had assured his release. At 11 pm, Sharma was allowed to leave. The victim approached Mahatma Phule police station in Kalyan and gave a written complaint (copy with MiD DAY).

"We have recorded Sharma's statement. The matter has been forwarded to Kolsewadi police station, under whose jurisdiction the incident took place," said Sunil Dhanavade, inspector (crime), Mahatma Phule police station.

Wounded
"I have internal injuries. On Tuesday, I was shifted to VIP room from ICU," said Sharma. On Monday, National Railway Mazdoor Union (NRMU) organised a morcha against the RPF officials, demanding strict action. "I have heard that RR Pandav, senior inspector, RPF (Kalyan), is trying to save the culprits. They forged some documents to show that the miscreants were not on duty at the time," said an NRMU member."I want justice. The culprits should be punished. I have also given the complaint to Pandav," said Sharma.

The other side
MiD DAY contacted Inspector General (RPF) Anil Sharma and Senior Inspector RR Pandav (RPF Kalyan). "I am out of Mumbai," said Sharma. "I don't know of any such incident," claimed Pandav.