By Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network—Mumbai (RD/CN)
 
Mumbai, Jul 16: A Mangalore-bound train passenger was duped by a group of fraudsters posing as ticketing agents at Kurla Lokamanya Tilak (LT) Terminus here on Wednesday July 15.
 
Mangalorean Sundar Shetty residing in suburban Jogeshwari and working in a restaurant at Borivali was on his way to his hometown from the Konkan Railway (KR) LT Terminus on Wednesday afternoon and was to buy five general class tickets on the Matsyagandha Express train to Mangalore. 

As he arrived at the terminus, a man claiming to be an agent approached him promising to get him five tickets of his choice direct from the ticketing staff. Sundar Shetty paid him Rs 1,000, which was the cost of five tickets at Rs 195 each.

The fake agent returned with the tickets and was accompanied by five other men. He demanded an additional Rs 1,000 stating that the money should be paid immediately as the train was about to leave the terminus soon. 

Sundar Shetty had no choice but to pay owing to his travel plans. The fake agents operate in LT Terminus and cheat Mangalore-bound passengers who are desperate to reach their native place.  The regular commuters of Matsyaganda Express have urged the KR authorities at LT terminus to keep at least one ticket counter open till an hour before departure.