Verbal altercations, scuffles and group fights over seats have become a regular feature of the Pune-Mumbai journeys onboard the popular Sinhagad Express, say passengers who take the train on a daily basis to travel between the two cities.
What no one is fighting over, however, is the reason behind the discord — Passengers, activists and railway policemen and officials say it is the sharp cut in the seating capacity over the past few years which is leading to the altercations.
The latest incident of a “seat fight” was reported on Monday when 37-year-old engineer Sandip Gondegave was beaten by seven co-passengers when he tried to occupy an empty seat that had been “reserved” by the group for a friend.
