Women at receiving end in trains

In a recent incident,a 23-year-old woman took a CST-bound train from Kalyan. She had to board a general compartment where she came across a drunk youth. On being asked to move aside,the youth abused her and even tried to molest her near Dombivali. Other commuters came to her help and took him to task,but the youth retailated by kicking the woman. A first information report was registered with the Dombivali railway police and the matter was later transferred to Kalyan police station.

Senior police inspector Ashok Mahadev Jadhav said,“The accused,Nitin More (22),was arrested the same day. A case has been registered against him for molestation,assault and verbal abuse.”

In another incident,on June 13,2008,49-year-old Saroj Verma (name changed) was travelling in a ladies’ compartment of the special Jammu Tavi Express. When the train reached Borivali,an unidentified person claiming to be a policeman entered the compartment. He brandished a knife and threatened to kill Verma. He cut her cheek and ran away with her ornaments worth Rs 87,500 and Rs 20,000 in cash.

All these incidents occur in spite of increased police patrolling in trains,especially in the ladies’ compartments,and railway platforms.

Data show that the number of cases of theft and chain-snatching have gone up in 2007 and 2008. “In most of them,the robbers only intended to loot valuables. But in a few cases,they even tried to molest the women or rape them,” a police officer said.

On February 4,2007,a robber boarded the ladies compartment at Marine Lines and a woman was assaulted for not handing over her bag. “When the train halted at a signal between Marine Lines and Churchgate,the robber managed to jump off the train and escaped through a breach in the fencing,” the officer said.

A K Sharma,Commissioner,Mumbai Railway Police,said,“Our policemen treat such cases as cognisable offences. In most of them,the accused are caught and legal action initiated. The figure may seem high,but actually it is not when compared to other areas. Here,a majority of cases are related to theft and chain-snatching.”