Odisha: Man arrested for shouting slogans and showing Aadhaar to passengers at Balasore station
Balasore: The Government Railway Police (GRP) has arrested a man for allegedly attacking passengers at Balasore railway station in Odisha, forcing them to chant “Jai Shri Ram” and show their Aadhaar cards, officials said on Monday.
Police said the incident occurred on Sunday night when some passengers, claiming to be migrant workers, were sleeping in the waiting hall. A video circulating on social media allegedly shows some miscreants waking up the passengers, demanding their Aadhaar cards, and forcing them to chant.
However, the authenticity of the video has not been verified.
Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel arrived at the scene and arrested one of the accused and handed him over to the GRP.
A Railway Police official said the youth has been identified as Sagar Jena of Gandarda village, within the jurisdiction of the Sadar police station.
He said his other accomplices have been identified and will be arrested soon.
Police said a case has been registered under sections 126/196/115(2), 351(2) of the IPC and an investigation is underway.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Bhakta Charan Das told X, “The attack on migrant workers at Balasore railway station, the forced Aadhaar verification, and the forced sloganeering are a direct result of the BJP’s divisive politics. We strongly condemn this incident and demand strict action. Odisha will not tolerate politics based on fear and communal hatred.”
