Cases of molestation are on the rise in the city, and trains are no exception. In the most recent case, 33-year-old army staffer Sajeesh KV molested a 40-year-old woman in the Avantika Express on August 11
Though he was arrested later, the woman’s family members and acquaintances are in shock and disbelief over the fact that an employee of the Army could commit such a reprehensible crime.
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On August 11, Sunita (name changed) was travelling from Indore to Mumbai Central when the incident occurred. The complaint filed with the Government Railway Police (GRP) says that at around 5 am, when Sunita was fast asleep, Sajeesh pulled the at the sheet she had wrapped around herself.
“Sunita immediately opened her eyes and saw a man pulling at the linen. As soon as she realised what he was trying to do, she screamed, and relatives travelling with her caught the man,” said a GRP official.
The woman’s relatives dragged Sajeesh to the Mumbai Central railway police, and registered a case against him. Since the incident took place at Borivli, the case has since been transferred the Borivli GRP. Sajeesh was kept in police custody for a day and later sent to judicial custody, before he was released on bail. Sajeesh is a resident of Mysore and was travelling to Mumbai for some work.
Railway authorities and GRP officials are worried by sudden rise in cases of molestation. From 2011 to 2012, a 162.5 per cent rise was recorded in cases of molestation in trains and railway stations.
GRP officials say that they are short-staffed and so are unable to deploy their men in each and every coach reserved for women.
“We have sent a proposal to the authorities, asking them to consider hiring private guards to man the ladies’ compartments at night,” said a GRP official.
Thirty of the 48 cases registered till July this year with the railway police are cases of crimes against women. Shivajirao Bagal, Senior Inspector (GRP), Borivli, said, “He was arrested and is now out on bail.” u00a0
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