Woman pushed off Virar-bound local after protesting molestation loses left arm; accused arrested

A young woman was molested in a Borivali-to-Virar local train and, when she protested, was allegedly pushed under the train near Naigaon railway station. The incident took place on November 4. Her left arm was severed near the elbow after it came under a wheel of the train. Police have arrested the accused.

The woman said she had boarded the train at Borivali and was travelling to Naigaon. As the station was about to arrive, a man began touching her inappropriately, and the two got into an argument. According to the woman, she got off the train, abused the accused, and he abused her in return. She then hit him with her slipper. The accused then shoved her hard with both hands, and she fell onto the track from between two coaches.

The woman said she also suffered a head injury that needed 16 stitches. She said: "I want justice. One of my hands has become useless and I cannot do anything with one hand. The accused must get severe punishment."

After the incident, the accused took advantage of the crowd and fled. A case was registered at Bhayandar Railway Police Station on November 6 under Sections 74, 117(2) and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The woman and her family allege that the police did not apply the correct sections. The family expressed anger that the section for attempt to murder was not applied.

The family then approached the MNS. MNS assembly chief Sachin Popale accompanied the family to meet the senior railway police inspector and demanded that more sections be added. The police have agreed to the demand. The incident has again raised the question of women's safety in local trains.