Balasore: The Government Railway Police (GRP) have arrested a youth in connection with an incident at Balasore railway station in which passengers were allegedly harassed, assaulted and forced to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ while being asked to show their Aadhaar cards, officials said on Monday.
The incident reportedly occurred on Sunday night at the station’s waiting hall, where several passengers, said to be migrant workers, were resting.
According to police, a group of youths allegedly disturbed the passengers, questioned their identity and compelled them to chant slogans, creating panic at the station.
A video of the incident later surfaced on social media, showing individuals waking up passengers and demanding identity documents. Police, however, said the authenticity of the video clip could not be independently verified.
Following the incident, personnel of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) reached the spot and detained one of the accused, who was later handed over to the GRP for further action. The arrested youth has been identified as Sagar Jena, a resident of Gandarda village under Sadar police station limits.
According to the RPF, other individuals involved in the incident have been identified and efforts are underway to arrest them. A case has been registered under Sections 126, 196, 115(2) and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and investigation is continuing.
The incident has drawn political reactions as well. Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das, in a post on social media platform X, condemned the incident and demanded strict action against those involved, alleging that such acts were the result of divisive politics. He asserted that Odisha would not tolerate intimidation or harassment of migrant workers.
Police said law and order at the station is under control and additional security measures have been put in place.
