A troubling video showing a passenger being attacked on a train for supposedly complaining about a caterer who overcharged him has gone viral on social media.

The footage, initially shared in the ‘r/indianrailways’ community on Reddit, has since circulated widely on X and Instagram, sparking significant outrage.

The post was titled: “Passenger reported to RailSeva about the caterer overcharging. RailSeva collects the PNR and seat number, forwards them to IRCTC, which notifies the contractor, who then dispatches his men to assault the passenger.”

As per the Reddit post, the confrontation ensued after the passenger lodged a complaint with Railway Seva regarding the overcharge. The complainant’s PNR and seat information were reportedly shared with IRCTC, which then alerted the contractor. The contractor allegedly sent individuals to confront the passenger.

The 19-second video captures a sleeper coach where multiple men, including some dressed in catering uniforms, encircle a passenger as he is attacked. Other passengers are seen observing the incident without stepping in.

An X user who posted the video claimed the incident occurred on the Somnath Jabalpur Express (Train No. 11463) and criticized the existing grievance redressal system: “Sharing passenger information with the very individuals the complaint is against is illogical. Complaints should be verified by an independent party, and refunds should be processed directly to avoid endangering passengers.”

Another user highlighted a systemic issue: “Customers should not have to deal directly with the contractor. IRCTC shirks responsibility while contractors act like thugs.”

Many others shared similar stories, claiming they were coerced into retracting complaints or falsely confirming that issues had been resolved.

As of the time this article was written, Indian Railways has not released an official statement regarding the incident. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.