A 23-year-old woman was molested and an attempt made to kill her by a 28-year-old man in a moving local train in Mumbai on Saturday. He was arrested by the Government Railway Police (GRP).
The woman boarded the second class ladies compartment in the train at 5.40 a.m. from the Mumbai Central railway station and was headed towards Mahim for work.
According to Rajendra Trivedi, Senior Inspector at the Mumbai Central GRP station, the accused got in to the compartment at the Mahalaxmi railway station and seeing the victim alone started misbehaving with her. “He tried to strangulate her when she removed her mobile and started dialling for help.”
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As the train halted at next station, Lower Parel, the victim cried out for help and commuters and GRP constables at the railway station nabbed the accused, who has been identified as Devraj Hanumant Kanapa.
“He was drunk at the time of incident. He is a resident of Kurla and will be produced in front of the magistrate after medical tests,” said Mr. Trivedi.
He has been charged under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 354 (outraging modesty of a woman).
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The incident has highlighted the abysmal condition of safety in women compartments in Mumbai’s local trains. As per the rule, a constable should be present in compartment during odd hours.