Kamal Ghorui
A recent video posted on X by Sarfaraz Zain (@SarfarazZain01) has left the travel world shocked and in shame. The video shows disturbing visuals and raises serious and uncomfortable questions around train travel in India. A journey that usually promises history, wonder and a glimpse of the world’s most beautiful UNESCO Heritage Site has instead turned into a moment of debate. Train number 12616 operating between New Delhi and Agra (heading toward the Taj Mahal) has found itself in the negative spotlight. It captures an incident where a light conversation between a tourist and a transgender asking for money ends up with a vulgar assault of the passenger.The X post read,“A foreign tourist from England was harassed and assaulted by a Transgender while traveling from NDLS to Agra & accused him and removed clothes & created panic onboardSuch obscene behavior is unacceptable & harms India’s imageTrain 12616@RailMinIndia @IRCTCofficial @RailwaySevaThe incident The one-minute long footage shows a transgender individual entering the compartment and demanding money from the passengers. First it started on a light note, but the whole situation turned scary when the transgender allegedly stripped. It left the passenger visibly shaken. Voices in the video reflect anxiety among passengers. Some can be seen laughing and some looked calm as if they have been in the situation before.Scared British touristThe British tourist, apparently from London, could be seen scared. He keeps on saying, “Oh my god, what are you doing? Why she wants to slap me? No no I dont have anything.At this point, the transender individual opened her pajamas. Then comes the assaults on the UK tourist, followed by slaps. “Oh god damn it, Oh god damn it, what’s going on here? I don’t have anything. STOP oh my god. What is this? For the British tourist, the journey was likely meant to be a gateway to India’s rich heritage but what he gets to see instead has become an unsettling episode. His reaction clearly says it all. Instagram reactions:The video fetched reactions:dr.ashut0shmishra said, “Why don’t people slap and throw them out?”tingleilukyin says, “Dear Tourist please avoid visiting or coming to India.”Tagging Railway Minister and railways, Avishek SSwain said, “This is the gift of Indian government..this had to happen one day…Govt.never acted against them..Now it reflected as our Vishwaguru image before the world…😂😂😂…@ashwini.vaishnaw @irctc.officialaary_k4u demanded action and wrote, “@railminindia pls take action sir against these people it’s unacceptable and disrespectful and it’s not what india offer to guests!”Railway’s responseAuthorities have taken note and an official response on X from RailwaySeva on the video reads,“Matter has been forwarded to concerned officials for necessary action. – RPF India”The incident raises some serious questions:1) The person did not look like a passenger with tickers, then how was he allowed on the compartment2) Why was there no railway staff to check or monitor such situations3) How safe are foreign and domestic passengers on trains when such harassment can unfold openly in public spaces?In the digital age, such incidents do not remain confined to one train coach but travel across borders, shaping narratives about safety and travel in India. For a nation that depends heavily on tourism, such moments are harmful for the reputation of “Atithi Devo Bhava”.And sometimes, as this incident shows, those stories can be as unsettling as they are unforgettable.
