Nitasha Natu TNN
Mumbai: The Government Railway Police (GRP) has instituted an inquiry into an incident in which two of their personnel allegedly knocked off money from five Guwahati-bound labourers near the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) recently.
The labourers were found carrying a small quantity of tobacco, which is a banned substance in the state. The cops then refused to consider
their identity cards as valid on the pretext that they weren’t issued in Maharashtra and threatened the men with action. A scribe who witnessed the goings-on wrote to the top GRP brass.
“I have been intimated about the incident and we are inquiring into it,” confirmed additional director general (GRP) T S Bhal.
The incident took place on September 20. The four labourers work at a construction site in Pen, Raigad district. They wanted to board a train to their hometown from LTT. While they were on the path connecting Tilak Nagar station to LTT, two uniformed cops at a GRP desk asked them to halt. The cops checked their baggage and frisked the labourers. A small quantity of tobacco was found on them.
“The labourers declared that the tobacco was for consumption. The cops then asked them to produce identification. At this, the labourers produced two election cards issued in Guwahati. But the cops declared these as invalid on the pretext that the Maharashtra government hadn’t issued them. The labourers were dumbfounded as they did not have separate IDs for Maharashtra,” said scribe, N Pandey, an eyewitness. “The GRP personnel then threatened to take action against the labourers who pleaded with them. Eventually, they were allowed to go after paying up Rs 600.”
Pandey video-recorded a conversation with one of the labourers, Moti Roshan. Roshan said he and his coworkers couldn’t file a complaint as they would miss their train. Pandey then gave a complaint in writing at the stationmaster’s office in Tilak Nagar and also informed the GRP helpline.
For purpose of sale, distribution, manufacture and storage of tobacco, an offender can be prosecuted under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Senior policemen confirmed that a government-issued identity card from any Indian state is valid proof of identity.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
Government Railway Police can check your luggage on reasonable suspicion
You can be charged for carrying unaccounted cash or jewellery, arms, explosives, narcotics or banned items such as tobacco
The GRP is not authorized to check the contents of your cellphone
A government-issued identity card from any Indian state can be produced as valid proof of identity
If a cop’s behaviour is objectionable, you can file a written complaint at the nearest railway police station or the deputy commissioner’s office
1 2 GRP men accost 5 labourers about to board a train from LTT
2 They find a small amount of tobacco on them
3 Not accepting voter IDs issued in Assam, they demand a bribe
4 An eyewitness tells the group to complain, but they refuse
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