Woman Vendor Allegedly Raped on Moving Train in MP

A case has been lodged under Sections 376 (rape) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

Signatures on an anti-rape banner. Image used for representational purposes. 

(Photo: Reuters)

A 23-year-old woman vendor was allegedly raped onboard a passenger train when it was passing Bherkhera area under Bhopal railway division of the West Central Railway, a GRP official said today.

The incident occurred in a toilet of a sleeper coach of Amarkantak Express (Durg-Bhopal) on 25 November.

"The woman is an unauthorised vendor who sells popcorn on train," Habibganj Government Railway Police (GRP) incharge sub-inspector BL Sen said.

He said the woman hails from Budhni in Sehore district of the state and the accused has been identified as Jitu (25) who hails from Bhopal.

No arrest has been made in the case so far.

The woman reached Bhopal yesterday but returned to her home in Budhni last evening without lodging a complaint as the accused had threatened her of dire consequences.

Government Railway Police (GRP) incharge sub-inspector BL Sen

After the woman confided in her husband, the latter lodged a primary complaint with the Budhni police station which was eventually shifted to Habibganj, the officer said.

"We have registered an FIR and booked the accused today under Sections 376 (rape) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the IPC and have launched a hunt to arrest him," Sen added.

(Breathe In, Breathe Out: Are you finding it tough to breathe polluted air? Join hands with FIT in partnership with #MyRightToBreathe to find a solution to pollution. Send in your suggestions to [e-mail] or WhatsApp @ [phone])