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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Rly DIG molests woman IAS officer on Bihar train </b>
Amarnath Tewary | Patna

<i>Lalu says nothing happened; State orders inquiry</i>

In a shocking incident a senior Railway Protection Force (RPF) officer in an inebriated condition is alleged to have molested a Bihar cadre IAS officer and her sister travelling in 2394 Down New Delhi-Rajendra Nagar Sampoorna Kranti Express. While the State Government has promptly ordered an inquiry into the matter the Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad has said that nothing of the sort occurred.

Reports of the incident has not only shocked the nation but also raised questions about the security of women in Lalu's trains. It occurred when the young IAS officer Vandana Preyeshi and her sister Sujata, who is the wife of a Punjab cadre IPS officer, were travelling in air-conditioned coupe F-1 of the Patna-bound Sampoorna Kranti Express. The RPF DIG, Premjit Rawal too was travelling in the same coach. DIG Rawal is currently posted at Railway Headquarters in New Delhi and was reportedly on an official tour to Patna.

After the train had left Delhi, DIG Rawal and the sisters were involved in some general conversation.When the train reached Kanpur both the sisters had their dinner and retired to their respective berths for the night.

Meanwhile, DIG Premjit Rawal reportedly had a few drinks and while pretending to be under the influence of alcohol forced himself on Sujata and started molesting her. Shocked and surprised she reprimanded the DIG for his misbehavior but <b>when he did not stop the sisters shouted for help and also gave him a good thrashing.</b> <!--emo&:cool--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/specool.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='specool.gif' /><!--endemo--> 

The RPG DIG by then was completely taken aback by the turn of events and started pleading with the two sisters to spare him.
 
However, sources said that the IAS officer and her sister even took DIG Rawal's identity card and his cell phone. Hearing the commotion, other passengers, running staff and security personnel arrived only to find the drunk DIG pleading with both the sisters to return his mobile phone and ID card.
 
Later, after the intervention of other passengers and staff the sisters reportedly returned DIG's mobile phone.
 
Later, the IAS officer Vandana Preyeshi and her sister Sujata complained about the matter to the State Home Secretary. The State Government later ordered an inquiry into the whole matter and even faxed the details to the Railway Ministry as well as the Union Home Ministry.
 
Significantly, both the sisters remained aloof from the even though several mediapersons tried to get the IAS officer Vandana Preyeshi to reply to their questions but to no avail.
 
Vandana Preyeshi is currently posted in the State Home Department and is known as an upright and straightforward officer in bureaucratic circles.
 
"We've taken not of the incident very seriously and an inquiry has been ordered into it," said State Home Secretary Afzal Amanullah.
 
<b>Meanwhile, the RPF DIG got himself shut inside the doors of VIP waiting room number 5 at the Patna railway platform and refused to come out with his comments before the media.</b> It is learnt that the RPF Director General too is camping in Patna.
 
<b>However, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav came out in defense of his officer, DIG Premjit Rawal.</b> "The RPG DG has told me that nothing such incident has happened in the train. But, if anyone wants to make an inquiry he can do it. Let the lady register a complaint in this regard," reacted Lalu Prasad while dismissing the incident a minor one.
 
<b>The fuming Lalu Prasad even blamed media for blowing the incident out of proportion.</b> "As I'm told nothing has happened but its only you people [media] who are fanning it as a big incident," said Lalu Prasad who had come to Patna to accompany UPA presidential candidate Pratibha Patil's one day tour to the State capital.
 
Meanwhile, the reaction from rail passengers too has started coming in. "If such an incident can happen with a women IAS officer one can well imagine the condition of common women passengers in Lalu Prasad Yadav's train," said Anita Devi, a passenger.
 
<b>This is what the real 'turnaround' Lalu Prasad Yadav has made in Indian Railways, mocked many at the Patna junction.</b><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->