Siliguri, Feb. 19: Little did Chitrakala Roka, Kalimpong unit director of Tata Infotech know what was in store for her when she boarded the 3147 Up Uttar Banga Express from Sealdah with her colleagues.

“Humiliation and insult” came in the form of a singing eunuch who boarded coach no 7, when the train was somewhere between Sealdah and Barrackpore and started begging for alms.

Out of pity but more intent on getting rid of the “singing eunuch”, Roka fished out a Rs 5 coin.

The reaction was, however, far from what Roka thought it would be.

Instead of accepting the amount, the eunuch flung it aside and started “abusing” and taunting Roka.

When the eunuch saw the mocking had no effect on her, “third degree insults” followed, in a bid to force Roka part with more money.

Roka declined.

“When the eunuch saw the humiliation was getting nowhere, I was confronted. The eunuch caught hold of me and started shoving me around, passing filthy comments and making lewd gestures and abusing me for not parting with more money. When fellow passengers intervened, the ire was targeted at them. Finally, pushing me against the coach wall, the eunuch smashed my face against the wall, shattering my spectacles. During the commotion, the travelling ticket examiner, with a couple of railway security personnel in tow, arrived at the scene. But, instead of intervening, they stood like mute by-standers throughout the entire ordeal.” Roka said, recounting the humiliating incident.

Her appeals to the securitymen, Roka said, fell on deaf ears. “Deal with the eunuch whichever way you can,” was the answer I got from them,” she said.

When pestered by the other passengers, the personnel allegedly asked them to lodge a complaint at the next station.

“Adding insult to injury, the railway employees were shamelessly joking with the eunuch who was present in the compartment till Nawadeep, the next station. The security guards followed suit,” Roka said.

Roka lodged a complaint immediately after she reached Jalpaiguri yesterday.

“Mrs. Roka's case not an isolated incident of such blatant harassment of travellers on long-distance trains. We have received such complaints in the past too, but Roka, was one of the few who have lodged the complaint in writing,” said Sashi Kanth Pujari, Siliguri superintendent of railway police.

“Roka met me Tuesday afternoon. I have assured her that the matter will be seriously dealt with. Since the incident did not occur within our jurisdiction, I have informed my Sealdah counterpart. They have promised to take stern action against the railway staff present in the coach during the unfortunate incident.”