A dispute over a seat inside a Mumbai suburban local train turned violent in the early hours of Thursday, July 16, leaving two passengers with serious head injuries. Railway officials have clarified that no sharp weapon was used in the incident, contrary to initial reports circulating on social media.
The incident took place at around 12:30 am aboard a Parel–Ambernath local train while it was travelling between Dombivli and Thakurli stations.
According to Central Railway, an argument over a seat inside the luggage compartment escalated into a physical fight involving four passengers.
Following an alert, the train was stopped at Kalyan railway station, where personnel from the Government Railway Police (GRP) and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) rushed to the scene. The injured passengers were administered first aid before being shifted to Rukminibai Hospital in Kalyan.
One of the injured, who suffered a severe head injury, was later referred to Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital (Sion Hospital) in Mumbai for advanced treatment.
Central Railway Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Swapnil Nila said the altercation occurred when the train was relatively empty after midnight.
According to him, four people were involved in the scuffle. Two passengers got off at Thakurli station, while the remaining two deboarded at Kalyan, where they received medical assistance.
During the preliminary investigation, the GRP found that none of those involved was carrying a knife or any other sharp weapon.
Officials said the injuries were caused when a heavy metal kada (bangle) worn by one of the passengers struck another man's head during the fight.
"There is no element of foul play or any other complication. The injuries resulted from the physical altercation," Nila said.
Police identified the three passengers as Raju Waghe (19), Sahil Khandare (19) and Pritesh Kanojia (31).
All three received medical treatment, while one of the passengers with serious head injuries was shifted to Sion Hospital for specialised care.
The Kalyan GRP has registered a case and initiated legal proceedings. A detailed investigation is underway to determine the exact sequence of events.
One of the injured passengers has offered a different version of the incident.
He alleged that after boarding the train following work, he was resting on a seat when a group of men approached him despite several vacant seats being available. According to the passenger, he agreed to get up but was suddenly attacked with a metal kada, sustaining repeated blows to his head.
He further claimed that the attackers attempted to push him out of the moving train before fellow passengers intervened at Thakurli station.
However, railway police said their preliminary findings indicate that the injuries were sustained during a mutual altercation. The investigation is continuing, and officials are examining witness statements and other evidence.
In another incident on Wednesday night, panic briefly spread at Kurla railway station after a man carrying a wooden stick was seen running along Platform No. 1 at around 9:20 pm.
Videos of the incident went viral on social media before Railway Protection Force personnel and the GRP detained the individual.
During preliminary questioning, officials found that the man appeared to be mentally unstable. He has been taken into the custody of the Kurla GRP, which is conducting further inquiries and initiating legal action.
The latest incidents have once again raised concerns about passenger safety on Mumbai's suburban railway network, especially during late-night services.
Railway authorities have assured that investigations into both incidents are ongoing and that appropriate legal action will be taken based on the findings.
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