The Government Railway Police on Monday arrested a travelling ticket examiner (TTE) on the charge of sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl, who was travelling with her parents on an express train bound to Chennai from Coimbatore.
The family was returning on Cheran Express after a holiday in The Nilgris. When the train was crossing Salem after 2 a.m., the father of the child woke up and saw a person in white uniform molesting her.
The child’s father shouted at the offender and the other passengers woke up and caught him.
The offender said he was Aneesh Kumar, the TTE of the next coach, and had come to charge his mobile phones.
However, the victim’s father dismissed this as a pretext and informed the Government Railway Police (GRP) over mobile phone.
On reaching Jolarpet, Kumar was handed over to the police personnel waiting there. The girl’s father lodged a complaint with the GRP.
Kumar was booked under Section 7 (Whoever, with sexual intent touches private parts of the child or does any other act with sexual intent which involves physical contact without penetration is said to commit sexual assault) and 8 (Whoever, commits sexual assault shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three years but which may extend to five year and shall also be liable to fine) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
M. Rohit Nathan, Superintendent of Police, GRP, said Kumar had been remanded in judicial custody. Efforts are on to file charges against him within three days.
“People should come forward to utilise the services of the GRP control room which functions round the clock. Passengers should not be afraid of such anti-social elements. Even if it is a government servant, we will take immediate action against him,” Mr. Nathan said.
Passengers/public can contact control room no 1512 for complain about any safety issue or WhatsApp to 9962500500, said the GRP.
