National fencing champion dies after allegedly being pushed off train

Hoshiyar Singh was a national level fencer

A physically-challenged fencer died after he was allegedly pushed off a moving train by railway policemen at a station in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday night, a charge the authorities denied.
Hoshiyar Singh, who won the bronze medal in an under-17 championship in 2005, was returning with his family from Mathura to his hometown Kasganj when the incident took place. He boarded the general coach after seating his mother and wife in the women’s coach.
According to reports, Hoshiyar Singh entered the ladies’ coach after receiving a call from his wife which led to an argument between him and GRP personnel where one thing led to another and the national champion unfortunately lost his life.

“Railway police asked my son to get off the ladies’ compartment or pay Rs 200…By that time the train started moving,” Hoshiyar Singh’s father was quoted as saying by ANI.

Railway officials tell a different story

Superintendent of police (railways) GN Khanna dismissed the allegations, though the case was based on the family’s complaint.
“Our investigation tells a different story. Singh got down at the station to refill his bottle at one of the station water taps. But before he could board the train, it started pulling out around 7.30pm. He ran but couldn’t catch the door handle and slipped through the gap between the platform and the tracks. He was physically challenged in one hand,” he said.
When two GRP constables on three coaches ahead of Singh’s saw the man fall through the gap, they pulled the chain and stopped the train, the officer said.