Level-crossing incident: Gateman will get 'injured on duty' status, says Railways

The level crossing gateman, whose hand was hacked by bike-borne assailants near Delhi-Haryana border, will be given the status of 'injured on duty' and he will not suffer any loss of pay or facilities till he rejoins duty, Railways said Tuesday.

Kundan Pathak, a resident of Bishanpur in Bihar's Banka district, was manning gate number 19 between Narela and Rathdhana when the three armed men demanded that the level crossing gate be opened. He refused as the 18101Muri Express was approaching, the official said.

After which the three men hacked his hand.

The 28-year-old underwent a four-hour surgery on Monday where his limbs were reattached. However, he is still in ICU at a city hospital.

"He is recovering and will be treated as injured on duty and he will suffer no loss of remuneration or facilities till he rejoins. We are also taking care of his entire treatment," Northern Railway spokesperson Nitin Chowdhury said.

Sources on Tuesday indicated that the attack on Pathak was a case of "mistaken identity" as the assailants asked him about someone else.

"They attacked him after he said he was not the man they were looking for. Prima facie it was a case of mistaken identity. However, the investigation is ongoing," the source, who spoke to Pathak, said, adding the injured man ruled out any "enmity with anyone."