MP: Raped Multiple Times In Moving Train, Woman Walks To Report Culprit

A 30-year-old woman was allegedly raped in a moving train in Madhya Pradesh's Katni district, an official from the Government Railway Police (GRP) said on Monday. The incident occurred when the woman boarded the Jabalpur-Rewa train at Pakaria station between Satna and Katni sections on Sunday evening. 23-year-old Pankaj Kushwaha, a native of Banda (Uttar Pradesh) and resident of Katni, has been arrested in connection with the incident, said Satna GRP station in-charge according to The New Indian Express report.

The passenger was raped in a moving train for 40kms in Madhya Pradesh's Satna district before the survivor bravely managed to escape leaving her clothes, bag, and sandals behind running on the platform half-clad and barefoot. 

A 22-year-old accused locked himself in the AC compartment of the train while a police constable boarded the train to keep the accused from leaving, while other RPF teams climbed up the train at later stations. However, the locked door could be opened only by mechanical teams. 

What Happened?

The who was also travelling in the passenger train crept behind the woman as she went onto another train standing to use the washroom and locked the doors of the special compartment. 

As the special train started moving, the accused hit the woman behind her head and shoved her so hard she fell on the ground suffering a head injury as well. The accused then raped the woman continuously from Pakaria railway station to Maihar railway station inside the locked compartment of the special train. 

As per the woman's FIR, she did not realise that the accused man followed her on the special train but she recalled how while travelling on the passenger train he tried striking up a conversation with her. She also shared that when she resisted the accused tried to kill her. 

As the train halted at Satna Railway station, around 40 km after Maihar at 8 pm, the survivor wittily pleaded to the man she was thirsty and at first stance, the brave woman jumped off the train leaving behind her saree, sandals, and bag and ran towards a RPF constable at Satna station. 

Nabbing Down The Accused:

As the RPF constable saw the alleged accused getting back on the train after fetching water from the platform, the constable quickly climbed up the train but the accused reportedly locked the doors from inside while the constable stayed in the moving train. 

The RPF teams climbed up the train from Kamia railway station but the lock of the AC coach could not be opened. After 3 hours of pursuit of the man locked inside the AC coach, the GRP team managed to open the locks at Rewa railway station while the RPF grabbed down the accused. 

Arun Tripathi, Jabalpur RPF commandant said if it was not for the RPF constable boarding the train with quick prompt, the accused could have escaped. Tripathi also informed that the accused man has been sent to Katni where a case has been registered against him. 

The disturbing incident is a loud example of the urgency to improve the safety protocols for women travellers at railway stations and other public transportation