An attendant on a train travelling through Uttar Pradesh has alleged that senior Samajwadi Party leader and state urban development minister Azam Khan had "thrashed" and humiliated him for what Khan thought were "improper beddings" on board.

The incident allegedly happened on December 18 on the Amritsar-bound 13005 Howrah Amritsar Mail. AC First Class coach attendant Nirmal Murmu complained to the Government Railway Police (GRP), Amritsar, the following morning that Khan had rung the bell to summon him to his coupé, and asked him, "Don't you know how to arrange beddings?"

According to Murmu's complaint, Khan then "slapped" Murmu, "locked the coupe", and forced him to do "50 sit-ups with his hands holding his ears".

Murmu said in his complaint that the bed had been made before the train reached Lucknow, where Khan got on. Amritsar GRP SHO Dharminder Kalyan said Murmu had alleged that the minister assaulted him when the train was about five kilometres away from Rampur, Khan's base, where he get off.

The Amritsar Mail leaves Lucknow at 3.25 pm, and is scheduled to reach Rampur, 299 km away, at 8.24 pm.

Kalyan said he had forwarded Murmu's complaint to a senior GRP official in Jalandhar. Hardeep Singh, DSP, GRP Jalandhar, said it did not matter that the incident happened near Rampur. "A complaint of this nature can be lodged anywhere." Despite repeated attempts, Azam Khan could not be reached for a comment.

Please read our terms of use before posting comments