Gatekeeper deployed at level crossing between Pudukottai and Tirumayam attacked, one arrested

A gatekeeper deployed at a level-crossing gate between Pudukottai and Tirumayam railway stations in Pudukottai district was allegedly attacked by a man, reportedly in an inebriated state, on Wednesday (December 31, 2025) evening. The duty gatekeeper Dheeraj Kumar was taken to the Pudukottai Government Medical College Hospital later by the railway and Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel.

The incident occurred at around 6.20 p.m. when the gatekeeper closed the non-interlocked level-crossing gate No. 384 between Pudukottai and Thirumayam along the Karaikudi-Tiruchi electrified broad gauge section, for the Rameswaram-Tiruchi express (Train No. 16850) to pass through at that time. 

Railway Protection Force (RPF) sources said two persons on a motorycle, suspected to be in an inebriated state, came to the spot and reportedly asked the gatekeeper to open the gate. One of them, later identified as Karthi, allegedly verbally assaulted and attacked the gatekeeper with a small knife, causing a slight bleeding injury to his hand. The duo then sped away.

GRP personnel from Karaikudi and field-level railway officials from Pudukottai and Madurai arrived at the spot and took the injured gatekeeper to the hospital. GRP, Karaikudi, registered a case under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and arrested one accused, Karthi, 34, of Pudukottai district in connection with the attack. Further investigation is under way.