Woman loses left arm after being pushed onto tracks at Naigaon station; accused held for molestation

The question of women's safety on Mumbai's local trains has been raised again. A young woman travelling on a local from Borivali towards Virar has alleged obscene behaviour and molestation. According to the allegation, when she objected, she was pushed towards the tracks at Naigaon railway station. The incident took place on November 4. Her left arm went under the train's wheel and had to be amputated at the elbow. Railway police have arrested the accused.

According to the woman's complaint and her own statement, she boarded the local at Borivali station to travel to Naigaon. As Naigaon station was approaching, the accused began touching her inappropriately. The two argued over the misbehaviour. When she got off at the station, the accused followed her and continued to touch her. In anger, she asked him, "Don't you have a mother or sister at home?"

The accused did not stop even then, and the two began trading abuses. To defend herself and push him away, the woman struck the accused with her slipper. It is alleged that the enraged accused hit her back with a slipper and, while the local was standing at the platform, shoved her hard with both hands. The push sent her into the gap between two coaches and onto the tracks. She was trying to climb back onto the platform when the train began to move and her left arm was crushed under the wheel.

The woman has permanently lost the use of one arm and also suffered a serious head injury. Doctors had to put 16 stitches in her head. Describing her condition in utter helplessness, she said, "My whole life has been ruined. One arm is completely useless, what do I do with this one arm now? I only want justice, and that brute must get severe punishment. Everyone please pray for my quick recovery."

After the incident, the accused had fled the spot by taking advantage of the crowd at the station. A case was registered at Bhayandar railway police station on November 6. Police initially booked him under Sections 74, 117(2) and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The woman's family expressed strong anger that Section 109 (formerly Section 307), which deals with attempt to murder, was not applied despite the allegation that she was pushed onto the tracks with intent to kill her.

The victim's family approached the Mira-Bhayandar branch of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) headed by Babu Patil. MNS office-bearer Sachin Popale then met Senior Railway Police Inspector Mudda with party workers. Popale said, "Bhayandar railway police initially tried to shield the accused by applying light sections. We met Senior Police Inspector Mudda today and demanded that Section 109 of the BNS be added immediately in this case."

Popale said the police have responded positively and have assured that they will add the section by submitting a letter in court tomorrow. He said, "Cases of molestation of women have gone up at present in the Vasai, Borivali and Bhayandar areas. Women should therefore be careful while travelling and contact the MNS branch immediately if anything of the sort happens."