Late last month, Isha Chitnis and a colleague were waiting at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus to board the early morning Tapovan Express to Nashik. The young women saw that a man on the window seat was openly masturbating.
Horrified, Ms. Chitnis shot a quick video on her phone and went to the General Railway Police (GRP) office to complain. The constable on duty at first laughed when he heard their story. When he eventually accompanied them back to the train, the man had zipped up his trousers. Though there was video proof of the man’s behaviour, the constable did nothing, instead telling the women that the man had bought a ticket and was entitled to his seat.
Ms. Chitnis then posted the video and her account of the police reaction on social media. Almost a fortnight later, after other users had tagged official railway handles and the Railway Minister, the GRP swung into action.
Machindra Chavan, ACP, GRP, said the incident “came to light only on Tuesday.” He said the police traced the offender in six hours and arrested him.
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