Man, 52, held for obscene acts at Nagpur Metro station, targeting women and minor girls

Serious questions have been raised over the safety of minor schoolgirls and women passengers at Nagpur Metro stations. Lakadganj police have arrested a 52-year-old man who made obscene gestures at women and minor girls on Metro station premises. He had been committing such acts at various Metro stations and public places for the past week. The accused has been identified as Ajay Jeevan Ramteke, 52, a resident of Bhaldarpura.

The incident took place on the night of October 22 at Chitaroli Metro station on Central Avenue. A 17-year-old student had reached the station to travel to Shankar Nagar. As it was night, there was not much of a crowd on the premises. The student was standing near the lift when the accused, seeing her alone, committed an obscene act. The girl was badly shaken. After reaching home, she told her family everything. The family informed the Metro administration and also filed a complaint at Lakadganj police station. On receiving the complaint, police began an investigation.

Lakadganj police examined CCTV footage from Chitaroli Metro station and other locations, including Vaishno Devi Chowk and Telephone Exchange Chowk. According to police, the footage showed Ramteke engaged in suspicious activity around women and minors. He was identified on this basis and arrested.

Police suspect that the accused had targeted other women and minors over the week. Ramteke spent the whole day moving about the premises of different Metro stations, which strengthens the suspicion that several women and minors may have been victims. However, these incidents can be confirmed only after investigation.

The incident has raised questions about the security arrangements for women passengers on Metro premises. The Metro administration claims that robust security measures are in place, but such an incident on station premises has cast doubt on how effective they are. There have been earlier incidents of girl students being harassed on Metro station premises. In view of this, it has become necessary for the Metro administration to take strict steps. The Metro's security officials, however, took the latest case seriously and gave Lakadganj police considerable help.