Railway Worker Dies Following Self-Immolation in Tatanagar Land Dispute

Tatanagar Railway Employee Succumbs after Self-Immolation over RPF Harassment in Land Dispute.

JAMSHEDPUR – Sunil Kumar Pillai, a Tatanagar railway worker involved in a land dispute, died during treatment at Tata Main Hospital after setting himself on fire.

Pillai had allegedly been harassed by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) over a disagreement involving railway land possession at Bagbeda Traffic Colony in Tatanagar.

This tragic incident occurred on June 28 and Pillai was admitted to the hospital’s burn unit for intensive treatment.

Railway Land Dispute Turns Fatal

The disputed railway land in Bagbeda Railway Traffic Colony was reportedly being encroached upon by a businessman named Ompakash Kasera on Wednesday, June 28.

This land was previously under the possession of Pillai’s family.

For a long period, Pillai had been appealing for RPF intervention and claimed that Kasera’s occupation was illegal.

No Relief, Desperation Grows

Despite his numerous pleas and reaching out to various departments within the Railways, Pillai’s efforts were futile.

When the RPF failed to halt the land occupation on June 28, an exasperated Pillai publicly accused the RPF of abetting the illegal activity.

In a desperate act of protest, he set himself on fire.

Notably, Pillai’s wife and daughter had also previously attempted self-immolation during an RPF operation to take possession of the land.

Unanswered Appeals and Accusations

Before his tragic death, Pillai released a video in which he accused the RPF of tormenting him.

In the video, he claimed that the RPF and the Land Department were colluding with Kasera, facilitated by monetary transactions.

Despite taking his complaints to the Railway Minister, the Ministry of Railways, and the DRM via tweet, his appeals fell on deaf ears.