Passenger 'assaults' Kasba station master, disrupts train services

Train services remained suspended for around 30 minutes after a passenger allegedly assaulted the station master and vandalised railway equipment at Kasba Railway Station in Brahmanbaria this morning.

The incident occurred around 9:20am, shortly after the Noakhali-bound Upakul Express stopped at the station, said Naznin Sultana, officer-in-charge of Kasba Police Station.

Police later detained the accused, identified as Sumon Mia, 30, of Dhwajonagar village in Kasba upazila.

Quoting railway sources, the OC said one of Sumon's relatives had boarded the train at Laksam station in Cumilla carrying fish fry. The relative allegedly handed Tk 100 to a railway staff member.

When the train reached Platform No. 1 of Kasba station at around 9:15am, Sumon entered the office of Station Master Shafiqul Islam and demanded that the money be returned.

As the station master said he had no knowledge of the matter, Sumon allegedly punched him and damaged a landline phone and a computer monitor used for train signal control.

The vandalism disrupted rail operations for about 30 minutes before services resumed, the OC said.

OC Naznin said he would be handed over to the railway police as the matter falls under railway jurisdiction.

Station Master Shafiqul said two separate cases are being prepared with Akhaura Railway Police Station -- one for vandalising railway equipment and another for assaulting an on-duty railway official.