Rajasthan : The murder of army soldier Jigar Kumar in Bikaner-Jammu Tawi Sabarmati Express has now reached a new turn. Earlier it was considered a minor debate, but now this matter is raising the finger on the entire security structure of the Railways. According to the report, 73 percent of the attendants of Indian Railways are not given any kind of safety training. That is, the people who are there for the convenience and safety of the passengers are themselves unaware of the rules. Jigar’s death is no longer an isolated incident but has become the face of the weakness of the system.

Is there anything called security in Railways?

Crores of people travel by train every day in India. But incidents like Bikaner Express show to what extent the safety of passengers depends on God. After recruitment of attendants in Railways, security training is expected from them, but in reality it is only on paper. The report shows that many attendants are not even aware of what to do in a crisis situation. This is the same mistake which took the life of a young man like Jigar.

Was the accused alone or the system guilty?

The accused Zuber Memon has been arrested, but the question is whether it was his fault alone or the entire system’s fault. In Railways, there is almost no training for mental health check-up, anger management and communication with passengers for the staff. Jigar Kumar had asked for just a bedsheet, and that very demand became the reason for his death. If the staff had been trained to handle tense situations, perhaps the argument would not have turned into murder.

Have Railways learned a lesson?

After the incident, Railways ordered an inquiry, but no one is talking about internal reforms. A senior ministry official acknowledged that the incident showed that major changes were needed in staff training. The Railway Board is now preparing for a new safety audit, which will include background checks of all train attendants and cleaning staff. This initiative may be late, but is necessary.

Is the life of passengers so cheap?

Every passenger traveling in a train assumes that the Railways will protect him. But this case of Bikaner Express breaks that trust. Passengers now fear that they cannot predict when any of the staff working around them may turn violent. People are asking on social media – If the soldiers of the country are not safe in the train, then what about the common man?

Will we get justice now?

Jigar Kumar’s family is still waiting for justice. His father said, “Our son was protecting the country, but the country could not do anything for him.” This statement can shake the heart of any person. The family wants the Railways not to consider this case as ‘another case’, but to learn from it and make changes in its security structure. The case is going on in the court and now all eyes are on how soon justice is delivered.

Will the face of Railways change now?

This case of Bikaner Express is not just a murder but a stain on the soul of Indian Railways. Now there is pressure on the ministry to take the security system out of paper and reach every coach of the train. If Railways misses this opportunity, this blood stain will never be washed off. The country now needs a system that can give assurance to every passenger that his journey will not only reach his destination but will also be safe.