Mumbai Local's First Class Has Become a Death Trap

Source: Rehan Ahmad Ansari on Pixabay.com

There is one piece of advice that we all grew up hearing, without any disparities. It says that it is easier to fuel a problem than to solve it. But what is currently in execution is quite the opposite. People are finding it easier to worsen something than to resolve it. This trait has been growing dangerously in number in India recently. Things get critical when such escalations end up in fatalities.

Initially, the intention of introducing Indian Railways was nationwide connectivity. Sadly, nowadays, it unknowingly serves as the most convenient spot for all sorts of crime. Be it murder, theft or harassment, the Indian Railways have seen it all. As per statistical data, more than 6.8 million passengers travel on the city’s local trains every day. But there is a huge disparity between the required safety measures and those that currently exist. The lack of adequate CCTV cameras, understaffing of the Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF), and other factors collectively compromise passenger safety. Such massive crowds and huge populations in cities like Mumbai make it challenging to avoid such crimes. According to statistical data submitted in the year 2024, more than 51,000 people had died in Mumbai Local Trains within a period of 20 years.

In one such recently reported incident, a young man was stabbed to death in the Mumbai local train’s first-class compartment. The murder reportedly happened on the night of 24 June on the Churchgate - Nallasopara fast local between Andheri and Borivali stations.

The victim was Mayank Lohar, a 22-year-old salesman, who was travelling in the first-class compartment. According to reports, Mayank had requested Roshan Suvarna, the accused, to close the door as it was raining heavily and the water was entering the compartment. This eventually broke into a heated argument between the two. In a fit of rage, the 30-year-old accused, Roshan, took his knife and stabbed Mayank to death. Following this, Roshan immediately fled the scene. However, he was arrested by the police within 15 hours. During the investigation, it was found that the fellow passengers had manhandled the accused during the argument. It was after this that he stabbed Mayank to death.

According to sources, Roshan informed the Police that he was drunk during the incident. Crimes under the influence of alcohol have become a common sight in our country. Though it has become the sole reason for the crime in most of the incidents, consumption of liquor has never seen any decrease. Not only alcohol, but any kind of drugs, for that matter. Alcohol consumption in public places and drunken driving remain highly focused areas. Instead, the consequences of alcohol consumption itself are neglected. The easy availability and addiction make it challenging to curb the consumption of such drugs. Although the government has taken several measures to halt the supply and mobility of drugs, their execution among addicted individuals remains a difficult task. It is crucial to focus on the prevention of drug and alcohol addiction so that intoxication does not take over humans and humanity.

To everyone's shock, it was found that the accused, Rohan Suvarna, had been carrying the knife he had used for stabbing for nearly six to seven takes to a nearly six to seven months. This takes us to a totally different concern. The incident serves as a bright exposure of the surprising ease with which harmful weapons are possessed by laymen, ultimately resulting in fatalities and deadly injuries. It also divulges the lack of stricter implementation of the existing laws and the absence of new ones. With such situations prevailing in society, public transportation and travelling in crowded places become more challenging. In such a populated country like India, thousands of commuters depend on public transport for their day-to-day activities. From students to employees, the number of users continues to rise every day. Such liberal movement of harmful weapons continues to pose a threat to people's lives. Proper screening and 24x7 patrolling can aid in avoiding such risks to a great extent. When crowded places are left unsupervised, it unlocks the potential for repeated crimes.

Just a few days after this incident, another case was reported, which stated that two men were left injured. A harsh dispute over a seat turned violent and led to these circumstances. Such incidents continue to warn us about the contemporary society’s growing intolerance towards anger, ego, and related emotions. Even a small resolvable dispute ends in murder due to this intolerance. Youngsters, especially those under the influence of alcohol or any other drugs, are frequently reported to be involved in similar cases. The inability to solve arguments eventually leads to irreversible acts of crime. The legal framework of our nation indeed stands responsible for the prevention of these crimes. Yet, it is society, which includes family, friends, schools, and the social environment, that is solely responsible for preventing these thoughts.

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