Woman bites Ticket Checker’s hand after being caught ticketless in AC coach

Mumbai: A woman commuter travelling without a ticket in a Virar-bound air-conditioned suburban train on Thursday found herself in trouble when she bit a female Ticket Checker (TC) in an attempt to evade the consequences. The incident unfolded between Dahisar and Mira Road railway stations around 1:30 pm, as the TC, Atira Surendranath (26), was inspecting tickets in the sparsely occupied AC train.

Upon being asked to produce her ticket, the woman, identified as Singh, attempted to evade the TC. Surendranath pursued her inside the compartment and instructed her to disembark at Mira Road station. Singh then contacted her husband, who booked an AC ticket online and sent it to her via WhatsApp. However, the TC reminded her that tickets cannot be booked after the journey has commenced, and she would have to pay the fine.

As the argument escalated, Surendranath attempted to escort Singh off the train. In a desperate attempt to escape, Singh bit the TC on her hands, leaving visible bite marks. Surendranath managed to alert her colleagues, who escorted Singh to the Vasai GRP, where she was booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Indian Railway Act for unlawful entry and assault on a public servant.

Railway officials emphasized the importance of possessing a valid ticket while travelling and clarified that online tickets must be carried by the traveller and presented when requested by a TC. Additionally, tickets sent via WhatsApp, even if in possession when demanded by a TC, are not considered valid. Authorities also noted instances of commuters attempting to circumvent ticketing regulations by asking family and friends to book tickets and share them via WhatsApp.