Elderly Metro commuter targeted with racial slur

In an alleged incident of discrimination against a person belonging to a minority community, an elderly man was subjected to religious and racial slurs and derogatory remarks by some passengers while travelling in the Violet line of Delhi Metro.

The incident came to light after women's right activist Kavita Krishnan wrote about it in a post on her Facebook wall. Krishnan posted the details of the incident on Sunday, where a senior citizen (who appeared to be Muslim because he had a beard and no moustache) was denied a seat on the train by two young men because of his appearance. He was told that if he wishes to get a seat in the coach, he must go to Pakistan.

Krishnan said that the incident took place in front of her colleague and trade union leader Santosh Roy who intervened after the situation seemed to get out of hand.

According to Roy, the young passengers not only denied the elderly man a seat on the Metro and abused him, but also passed derogatory remarks against other passengers who tried to intervene in the matter.

Some other young men came to the support of the two abusers, one of whom caught Roy by the collar and told him also to "Go to Pakistan" as well.

Krishnan said that Roy stood his ground and several other passengers in the Metro came to his support. When the Metro stopped at Khan Market station, a guard entered the compartment.

Eventually, the guard, accompanied by Roy and the elderly Muslim man, took the two men who abused the passenger to the police post at Pandara Road, after which the two men were detained.

Krishnan further stated in her post that a few days later, when Roy visited the police station he came to know that the elderly man had decided not to pursue the complaint.

"The elderly gentleman had given a written statement that he accepted the apology from the two young men and that he had forgiven them keeping in mind their young age," Krishnan added.