Shoranur: The Railway Police here on Saturday arrested a man from Uttar Pradesh for allegedly pouring hot water on a passenger aboard the Netravati Express. Abhishek Babu(24), a resident of Mumbai, sustained severe burns in the attack.

The accused, Raghavendra Singh, the pantry manager of the train, allegedly attacked the passenger following a payment dispute. On Thursday night, Abhishek had visited the pantry car seeking hot water. Though he was required to pay ₹15, he handed over a ₹200 note as he did not have change. However, Singh refused to accept it and asked him to return the next day with the exact amount. Singh then allegedly seized Abhishek’s mobile phone as security.

Within minutes, Abhishek returned to the pantry car to collect his spectacles and cap, which he had left behind by mistake. However, Singh refused to return them and told him to collect all his belongings the next morning after making the payment.

A quarrel broke out between the two on Friday, around 10 am, inside the pantry car. During the altercation, Singh allegedly poured hot water from a steel bucket onto Abhishek’s body, causing severe burns on his back and legs. Abhishek’s friends, who tried to intervene, also suffered minor burns.

Railway officials rushed the injured to a private hospital in Thrissur.

According to the Shoranur Railway Police, a criminal case has been registered against the pantry manager, and his arrest has been formally recorded.