MARGAO
Konkan Railway Police seem to not be paying any heed to the number of complaints by passengers against touts and agents bothering them at Margao railway station's ticket counters.
If one goes by the claims made by two passengers, the modus operandi adopted by the touts and agents is simple, but organised - two or three people will sleep at the ticket counter in the night and before the counter opens for the day, around 5-6 people will jump the queue and make it to the counter. Those mustering the courage
Konkan Railway Police seem to not be paying any heed to the number of complaints by passengers against touts and agents bothering them at Margao railway station's ticket counters.
If one goes by the claims made by two passengers, the modus operandi adopted by the touts and agents is simple, but organised - two or three people will sleep at the ticket counter in the night and before the counter opens for the day, around 5-6 people will jump the queue and make it to the counter. Those mustering the courage
to question these people are silenced with threats of violence.
At least two passengers, including a passenger, who stood in the queue for the tatkal ticket, was shocked to find a group of persons, which he suspects as touts and agents, literally holding the passengers to ransom. "Despite not being in the queue, they just bulldozed their way in the queue despite protests from the passengers. We brought the situation to the notice of the police, but they did not display any interest to ensure order at the ticket counter", one of the passenger told The Goan.
Another passenger claimed that those found sleeping at the counter and others who forced their way in the queue appears to be similar faces. "I request the Konkan railway as well as the police to reign in on the agents and touts, who cannot be allowed to hold the innocent passengers to ransom", he said.
When The Goan contacted Konkan railway Corporation Senior official, Baban Ghatge to shed light on the presence of touts and agents at the Margao ticketing counter, he feigned ignorance about the same. "We have not received any complaints in this respect. We will certainly probe into such complaints so that the innocent passengers are not harassed by anyone", Baban said. He agreed to a suggestion that the RPF should be asked to regularly check the CCTV footage to find out whether the same old faces make a beeline at the ticket counter everyday.
Incidentally, the Konkan Railway police station denied having received any complaint from anyone on the presence of touts at the ticketing counter, even though a victim passenger clearly told the media that he had lodged a complaint with the KR police.
At least two passengers, including a passenger, who stood in the queue for the tatkal ticket, was shocked to find a group of persons, which he suspects as touts and agents, literally holding the passengers to ransom. "Despite not being in the queue, they just bulldozed their way in the queue despite protests from the passengers. We brought the situation to the notice of the police, but they did not display any interest to ensure order at the ticket counter", one of the passenger told The Goan.
Another passenger claimed that those found sleeping at the counter and others who forced their way in the queue appears to be similar faces. "I request the Konkan railway as well as the police to reign in on the agents and touts, who cannot be allowed to hold the innocent passengers to ransom", he said.
When The Goan contacted Konkan railway Corporation Senior official, Baban Ghatge to shed light on the presence of touts and agents at the Margao ticketing counter, he feigned ignorance about the same. "We have not received any complaints in this respect. We will certainly probe into such complaints so that the innocent passengers are not harassed by anyone", Baban said. He agreed to a suggestion that the RPF should be asked to regularly check the CCTV footage to find out whether the same old faces make a beeline at the ticket counter everyday.
Incidentally, the Konkan Railway police station denied having received any complaint from anyone on the presence of touts at the ticketing counter, even though a victim passenger clearly told the media that he had lodged a complaint with the KR police.
