Woman assaulted by friend on moving suburban train

A woman was allegedly assaulted by a man on a moving local train, the Government Railway Police said here today.

The incident took place in the compartment for handicapped persons of a Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)-bound train late last night.

Video of the incident, shot by a commuter in the adjoining compartment, went viral on social media.

A senior GRP official said that on-duty constable on the train could not come to the woman's rescue, as he was in the other section of the compartment, separated by an iron grill.

As per the woman, who is married and is in her late 20s, she and the accused Rafique Khan (32) were friends, and she used to give him money for repair of his taxi, diesel or other purposes from time to time.

The woman said that she and Khan had decided to meet at Dombivli station late last night and take a train for Byculla together.

Both boarded the compartment for handicapped on a CSMT-bound train around 10.30 pm from Dombivli.

Trouble began when the woman asked Khan when he would return her money, and why he was harassing her.

When she received a call on mobile phone, Khan asked her who was the caller, and started abusing her, she said.

He tried to strangle her and tore off her clothes, she alleged.

Hearing her screams, a police constable on platform at Dadar station nabbed Khan when the train halted.

He was arrested under section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 354 (molestation) and other relevant sections of IPC, the GRP official said.