Vande Bharat passenger beaten after refusing seat to BJP MLA

A passenger on the New Delhi-Bhopal Vande Bharat Express was allegedly thrashed last Thursday after refusing to switch seats with BJP MLA Rajeev Singh and his supporters. The incident reportedly escalated at Jhansi station when individuals allegedly linked to the MLA boarded the train and assaulted the passenger.

According to reports, MLA Rajeev Singh, who was traveling with his wife and son, had a seat in the back of the compartment, while his family members were seated at the front, next to the passenger in question. The dispute began when the MLA reportedly requested the passenger to swap seats to allow his family to sit together. When the passenger, identified as Raj Prakash, refused, a heated argument ensued. 

In response to the incident, BJP MLA Rajeev Singh has lodged a non-cognizable report (NCR) with the Government Railway Police (GRP) in Jhansi. In his complaint, Singh alleged that the co-passenger behaved in an "indecent manner" and misbehaved with his family when confronted. He further claimed that the passenger called others at Jhansi station who also behaved abusively. As of Friday, no formal complaint had been received from the assaulted passenger, Raj Prakash, and police stated that further action would depend on a complaint from the second party.

Railway Superintendent of Police (Jhansi) Vipul Kumar Srivastava confirmed that the altercation stemmed from a dispute over changing seats and an "objectionable sitting posture" inside the train. Authorities are reviewing CCTV footage to ascertain the facts of the case. The incident has ignited public debate about passenger safety on trains and the conduct of public representatives, with many on social media demanding strict action against those involved.