BENGALURU: An argument between a group of unauthorised vendors and railway pantry staffers on board a Bengaluru-Delhi train turned violent, leaving two people injured.The incident occurred on Yeshwantpur-Hazrat Nizamuddin Sampark Kranti Express that just crossed Haveri around 7pm on Monday. The argument started after pantry worker Dhirendra Singh, 40, objected to an unauthorised vendor selling masala peanuts in an AC coach of the train.Dhirendra stated in his complaint to Government Railway Police (GRP) that around five others, believed to be part of the same group, rushed to support the unauthorised vendor.As Dhirendra’s manager JitendraSingh Tomar arrived, the situation turned violent, with the miscreants taking out sharp knives from their pockets. “These people tried to stab Dhirendra. He narrowly escaped but got a cut on his neck and started bleeding,” Jitendra told TOI.Another pantry staffer, Lokendra, was stabbed near his left shoulder, resulting in heavy bleeding. As the train stopped at Karjagi station for a crossing, the group of vendors got off the train and ran away.“Not just me, they attacked everyone in our team … two of us were stabbed, and the rest of the staff were beaten up. Goods were snatched from one of the staff members. For me, the knife went all the way in,” said Jitendra.GRP registered an FIR against unknown men based in Haveri.“Our team is looking for them. The staff who suffered minor injuries have gone back home,” said Sarah Fathima, SP, GRP Karnataka.The presence of illegal vendors on trains is a serious concern, according to Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). Following complaints, it initiated a national crackdown earlier this month, taking down 14 illegal websites.In South Western Railway’s Bengaluru division (SWR), fines amounting to around Rs 1.5 lakh were collected from unauthorised vendors in Bengaluru in May during a special drive.
