On the evening of Wednesday, December 31, 2025, a railway gatekeeper named Dheeraj Kumar was attacked at a level-crossing gate between Pudukottai and Tirumayam stations in Pudukottai district. The incident happened around 6.20 p.m. when Kumar had closed the non-interlocked gate No. 384 for the Rameswaram-Tiruchi express (Train No. 16850) to pass. According to Railway Protection Force (RPF) sources, two men on a motorcycle, believed to be intoxicated, approached the gate. They demanded that the gate be opened. One man, later identified as Karthi, verbally abused and attacked the gatekeeper with a small knife, causing a minor bleeding injury on his hand. The attackers then fled the scene. The injured gatekeeper was taken to Pudukottai Government Medical College Hospital by railway and Government Railway Police (GRP) officers. GRP, Karaikudi, registered a case under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. They arrested Karthi, a 34-year-old from Pudukottai district, in connection with the assault. Further investigations are ongoing.