Title - Railway clerks in Bangalore wouldn’t even let them flee in peace

Parasites have their own macabre and opportunistic way of feeding on the vulnerable.Tuesday saw scores of expedient railway employees at the Bangalore City station putting on a parasite’s mask, and fleecing the thousands who were trying to feel the city.

The railway employees had sensed blood, the moment the station started being swarmed by a distressed lot, mostly hailing from Assam. It was a heaven-sent opportunity for them to make money, and many of them did. Those frantically trying to buy tickets on the Guwahati Express that was to leave late at night had little option but remain at the mercy of the blood-sucking railway staffers.

Hundreds of Guwahati-bound passengers complained the clerks at the unreserved ticket counter, especially counter 7, were fleecing them to the bone - they would not tender the balance. If a passenger forked out a Rs 500 note to purchase a ticket worth Rs 324, he would be lucky to get back Rs 100, or even 50. Many didn’t get back a penny in return.

As serpentine queues kept lengthening, the clerks became more emboldened. They kept raking in the lucre with unabashed impunity.

It was while interacting with Guwahati-bound passengers that DNA correspondents came to know of this rampant and flagrant blood-sucking. When DNA correspondents caught the counter 7 clerk red-handed on camera, he jumped out of his skin, rushed outside, and apologised profusely. “Sir, this happens whenever there is a huge demand for tickets. I promise to return the money to those who haven’t got it,’’ promised PG Raveendran, the clerk in question.

Seeing a cornered Raveendran had Babul Bora erupt in joy. He had bought as many as 40 tickets for his friends and himself, and dished out Rs 2,300 to this same clerk. His joy turned to ecstasy when the DNA correspondents made the clerk return the money. “Sir, keep it up. May your tribe increase,’’ gushed Bora, and hurried out to give the only possible good news he would have had all day to his comrades.

There were hundreds who too wanted to wanted their money back, but with little luck. The platform was too overcrowded for comfort, and there weren’t too many angels around. “We have already wasted considerable amount of time here, and do not want to waste more for the money. Let him enjoy the money if needs it,’’ said one of the passengers, who did not wish to be named.

When informed about the incident, the deputy station master expressed his utter helplessness. He requested the DNA correspondents to inform the deputy general manager (commercial)Ramesh N for further action. Ramesh was to later say that the clerk had been suspended and an inquiry ordered into the incident.

Not many were as lucky as Bora, and most of them are on their way back to Assam now.