Samosas, a smartwatch, and a scuffle: UPI row at Jabalpur railway station goes viral
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Take your experience further with Premium access. Thought-provoking Opinions, Expert Analysis, In-depth Insights and other Member Only BenefitsA video documenting a violent dispute over a failed digital payment at Jabalpur Railway Station has gone viral on social media, leading to the immediate arrest of a samosa vendor. It has garnered almost 2 million views on X.
The shocking confrontation occurred around 5.30 pm on Friday. A passenger who had stepped off his train to purchase samosas attempted to pay for them using the PhonePe app but the transaction failed. As the train started moving, the passenger tried to return the food and board the train, but the vendor grabbed him by the collar, insisting on payment and accusing him of wasting time.
In a visibly panicked state, the passenger ultimately removed his smartwatch and handed the expensive item to the vendor so he could rush to catch his departing train. The vendor then provided two plates of samosas before letting the passenger go.
The viral footage sparked widespread criticism concerning vendor behaviour and passenger safety at railway stations, following which authorities swiftly intervened.
The Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Jabalpur confirmed in a comment under the X post that the vendor has been identified, taken into custody by the Railway Protection Force (RPF), and a case has been registered. Action is also being taken to cancel the vendor’s licence.