In what appears to be one of the most shocking displays of selfishness, a samosa vendor at Jabalpur Railway Station turned an ordinary snack purchase into a viral social media outrage after snatching a passenger’s ₹2,000 smartwatch following a minor UPI payment glitch.
The incident unfolded when the distressed passenger, racing to board a moving train, found his online payment for two samosas stuck midway. With no time or cash left, he rushed towards his coach — only to be stopped by the vendor, who grabbed his collar and forcibly took away his wristwatch as “security.”
A 34-second video capturing the scuffle quickly went viral across platforms, sparking a wave of anger and reflection. “Has money truly eclipsed empathy?” the video’s caption read — a question that struck a chord with viewers nationwide. Many users expressed dismay at the decline of human decency in everyday life, echoing the sentiment: Does earning kill your conscience?
Swift Action by Railways and RPF
Following massive public outrage, the Jabalpur Division Railway Manager took swift action by cancelling the vendor’s licence. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) subsequently arrested the accused, registering a case under relevant sections.
Eyewitnesses at the scene later admitted they regretted not intervening sooner, realising they “paid for it” in moral terms by standing silent.
Railway Complaints Reflect Widening Passenger Frustration
This shocking incident is not isolated — it mirrors the larger discontent simmering across Indian Railways.
From 2022 to 2025, the Railways received over 61 lakh passenger complaints. In 2024–25 alone, 32.08 lakh grievances were recorded — an 11% rise from the previous year.
While station-related complaints fell by 21%, train service issues jumped 18%, and security-related grievances surged 64% — climbing from 4.57 lakh to 7.50 lakh.
More alarmingly, 12.07 lakh complaints in the safety-related category over just two years highlight the growing trust deficit between passengers and the system.
A Lesson in Humanity
As the viral video reminds, small acts of kindness can go a long way in restoring public trust — especially in a world increasingly defined by haste, hostility, and apathy.
The Jabalpur incident may have started over two samosas, but it ended up serving a much larger takeaway: no transaction is worth the loss of one’s humanity