Thiruvananthapuram: The horrifying assault on 19-year-old Sreekutty on a moving train near Varkala is not merely an isolated act of violence it is a stark indictment of systemic lapses in railway safety. As an editorial board committed to public accountability, we find this incident deeply disturbing and unacceptable. No citizen should face the terror of being physically assaulted while traveling on a public transport system that is supposed to be secure and reliable.
Reports indicate that the victim, traveling in a general compartment, was assaulted and forcibly pushed off a moving train by a man reportedly under the influence of alcohol. She remains in critical condition, fighting for her life. The accused has been arrested, but the broader issue is clear: ordinary passengers, especially women, remain vulnerable in spaces that are insufficiently monitored and inadequately protected.
The time for symbolic gestures is over. It is imperative that railway authorities, law enforcement agencies, and policymakers recognize that safety cannot be a secondary concern. We urge immediate and concrete measures: increased deployment of Railway Protection Force personnel, comprehensive CCTV coverage of general compartments, random checks for intoxicated passengers, rapid-response protocols for emergencies, and clear accountability for lapses in security.
This tragedy should serve as a wake-up call. Women passengers must be able to travel without fear, and the public must have confidence that India’s railway system is a safe space, not a site of potential violence. Sreekutty’s ordeal demands urgent action not just promises so that no other passenger endures a similar nightmare.
As custodians of public discourse, we stand firm in demanding accountability, reform, and immediate steps to ensure that safety is a right, not a privilege, for every traveler.