Mumbai: Woman sexually assaulted in front of husband in train, four held

The police said the train reached the station at 7 pm on Friday. “When the train was about to leave the station, eight persons boarded it. As the train was on way to Mumbai, the eight men, with the help of knives, belt and blades, threatened the passengers and robbed them,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police Manoj Patil. While nine passengers were robbed of cellphones, the men stole cash from six others and sexually assaulted the woman. “When the woman’s husband and a co-passenger intervened, the robbers assaulted them with weapons,” said Patil.

The GRP said that two of the eight accused were caught at a railway station near Kalyan.

“When the train stopped at the station, the passengers raised an alarm. Our staffers at the railway station chased and caught two of them,” said an officer. During interrogation, names of two others were revealed, who were later apprehended.

Arshad Shaikh (19), Prakash Pardhi alias Pakya (20), Arjun Pardeshi (20) and Kishore Sonawane alias Kalu (25) were booked under sections 395 (dacoity), 397 (robbery, or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt), 376 (D) (gangrape), 354 (molestation) and 354 (B) (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe) of the Indian Penal Code and the Indian Railway Act.

“The woman who was sexually assaulted was sent for medical examination. The report is yet to arrive. Her statement was recorded, after which she went home,” said the officer.

The GRP said it is looking for the four absconding accused. The four arrested men were produced in court, which remanded them in police custody till October 16. GRP Commissioner Quaiser Khalid said, “Property worth Rs 96,390 were stolen from the passengers. Of this, we have recovered property worth Rs 34,200 from the four arrested men.”