Mumbai: GRP takes action after ragpicker assaults 20-year-old student in moving local train

Accused Pappu Gupta is a resident of Goregaon

Within hours of the publication of mid-day's report on the assault aboard a running local train, GRP commissioner on Wednesday ordered his officers to take prompt and appropriate action on the college student's allegation of sexual abuse.

A 35-year-old ragpicker, a Goregaon resident, entered a women's coach on Monday evening and assaulted a 20-year-old student, who sustained bite injuries to her lip and nose. While she insisted that it was a sexual assault, the Churchgate Government Railway Police (GPR) on Tuesday said the arrested accused's intention was to only rob her.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Manoj Patil, on GRP Commissioner Quaiser Khalid's order, acted swiftly and the Churchgate GRP outpost called the survivor on Wednesday morning. DCP Patil said, "As the offence is already registered and the accused is arrested, our team has been instructed to apply Section 354 (molestation) of the Indian Penal Code in the FIR."

"A police officer of the Churchgate GRP outpost contacted me to record my supplementary statement. Since I am traumatised by the assault, I am avoiding traveling. So, I requested them to record my statement at my house and they agreed," she told mid-day, adding, "I am thankful to you (mid-day) for publishing my ordeal." "I am also thankful to the woman co-passenger who pulled the chain when he was assaulting me," she said.

A police officer told mid-day that Pappu Gupta had boarded the coach for disabled people at Goregaon station. "When the train reached Santacruz, he switched to the women's coach of the same train. However, the student noticed him only when he made sexual advances by sitting in front of her.

"Gupta often loses his temper at people who tease him for wearing dirty clothes. We have checked his criminal record, but found nothing," the officer added. At the time of going to the press, the south Mumbai resident's supplementary statement was being recorded at her house in the presence of her mother.