Chennai: As dusk sets in, railway premises adjacent to wine shops need extra scrutiny by security forces with cases of assault and offensive behavior on a rise these days.
The latest incident took place at Guindy railway station on Tuesday night when a passenger in an inebriated state abused and manhandled another commuter eventually led to blocking of Chengalpet bound trains till 11 pm.
“I was shocked to see the manner the guy was thrashed yesterday after using foul language under the influence of liquor,” said Faizal Ahammed, a commuter who witnessed the incident.
On a monthly basis at least 20 to 22 cases of altercations are reported and people involved are often drunk, railway officials at Guindy station said. The two wine shops adjacent to the station are about 20 meters from railway premises.
“Since most of them come to the station after they are drunk with the bottles tucked beneath their shirts and kept in pockets, it is unable to detect them. Also, they go to the extreme ends of the station, consume and then create issues with passengers,” said an official at Guindy station.
Villivakkam, Perambur, Pallavaram, Ambattur, Avadi, Thirumalai, Chetpet are other stations that are adjacent to wine shops and face similar issues of manhandling and rude behavior from people under the influence of booze.
In stations like Avadi, Ambattur, Thirumalai and Villivakkam that share a 100-meter proximity from the wine-shops, cases of intimidation and verbal abuse that lead to tussle is a common affair after 6 pm.
“Last Friday, three people who were consuming drinks near Avadi station came to the platform and started abusing another guy and that eventually led to a fight.
Security people had to intervene to stop them,” said N.Ganesh Babu, a social worker.
According to Government Railway Protection (GRP), the most vulnerable station on the MRTS stretch is Thirumayilai where at least 15 to 20 cases occur every month.
