Molestation cases rise in running trains

The Railway Police Force (RPF) has registered eight cases of molestation on running trains from January this year. Officials said that a lot of these miscreants have now realised it is harder to be caught aboard a running train and as a result have begun to jump into the train as soon as it begins to leave the platform.

The miscreants who usually try to rob as well as molest women have realised that the presence of other commuters, police or CCTV cameras on the platforms might lead to being caught and beaten up by an angry crowd.

“Officials have been patrolling the local trains specially after the evening peak because we have seen these cases occur during these times,” said an official from the Government Railway Police.

RPF officials have raised the concerns over Parel station where the number of molestation incidents has increased in the past few months. Many officials said that due to the narrow width of the foot-over-bridge and the rush that ensues during the peak hours many women have complained of being groped. “Even when the women make noise it is hard for the crowd to understand who she is pointing at. Also people are not quite sensitive towards these issues,” added the official.

Sachin Bhalode, senior divisional security commissioner, Central Railway, said, “The Parel foot over bridge is manned by two of our officials during the morning and the evening peak hours because of the specific problem. We do try our best to disperse the crowd as fast as possible.”