Hundreds of candidates returning from a constable recruitment exam triggered chaos at Katihar Railway Station after being stopped from boarding the Rajdhani Express.
Scenes of chaos unfolded at Bihar’s Katihar Railway Station on Tuesday evening when hundreds of candidates returning from a constable recruitment examination surged towards the Rajdhani Express, triggering a major commotion that eventually led to a police action.
The unrest began when a large number of candidates of the Prohibition Constable Recruitment Examination gathered at the station to return home after the examination. As the Rajdhani Express arrived, candidates, faced with overcrowding and limited travel options, rushed to board the train. Many managed to enter the reserved coaches amid the heavy rush.
Railway Police personnel subsequently removed the candidates from the train, sparking protests and heated exchanges on the platform. Visuals from the station showed large crowds attempting to board the Rajdhani Express while police escorted them out of the coaches.
The situation escalated further when a group of agitated candidates moved towards the locomotive, allegedly attempting to stop the train from departing. Railway Police repeatedly appealed to the crowd through public announcements, urging them not to proceed towards the engine and to maintain order.
However, as the crowd continued to advance and tensions mounted, the Railway Police used mild force and carried out a lathi charge to disperse the gathering and prevent the situation from spiralling out of control.
During the confrontation, a woman candidate was seen engaged in a prolonged argument with police personnel before women police officers intervened and moved her away from the scene. Police also detained an individual described as an anti-social element who was allegedly involved in creating disturbances amid the crowd.
For a brief period, panic and disorder gripped the station, with candidates gathering on both sides of the railway tracks as authorities struggled to manage the sudden surge of passengers.
Railway DSP AK Akela later reached the station and helped restore normalcy. He said candidates had been prevented from boarding the Rajdhani Express due to overcrowding and noted that a large number of students had arrived from Araria, Kishanganj and Katihar after the first shift of the examination.
Akela said the railways had arranged special trains from Kishanganj and Forbesganj, along with additional services, to accommodate the examinees. Acknowledging the inconvenience faced by the candidates, he said the administration’s priority was to address their difficulties while managing the unexpected rush.
