A 20-year-old woman lost her left arm after she was allegedly molested and pushed from a local train at Naigaon railway station in Maharashtra on November 4. The Bhayandar Railway Police have arrested a 53-year-old man in connection with the incident and booked him for attempted murder.
The accused has been identified as Jitendra Hirmukhe, a resident of Wakipada in Naigaon East. Police said he was identified after officers examined CCTV footage from several locations. He is reportedly suffering from cancer.
The survivor, identified as Sufiya Shaikh, is married and lives in Naigaon. She was travelling from Borivali to Virar in the evening when the incident occurred.
Argument After Alleged Molestation
According to the police, Shaikh had mistakenly boarded a compartment reserved for passengers with disabilities because the train was crowded. Hirmukhe, who was travelling in the same compartment, allegedly began touching her inappropriately.
Shaikh confronted him, and an argument followed. In her account to NDTV, she said she objected to his behaviour and tried to drive him away by hitting him with her slipper. The man allegedly retaliated by throwing his slipper at her.
The confrontation continued after the train reached Naigaon station. Hirmukhe allegedly pushed her off the train, causing her to fall into the gap between two coaches.
As she tried to get back onto the platform, the train began moving, and her left arm was caught under its wheels. She was helped onto the platform by a police officer and other passengers.
Doctors Amputate Arm Below Elbow
Shaikh sustained severe injuries and was initially taken to a hospital before being shifted to Cooper Hospital for further treatment. Doctors had to amputate her left arm below the elbow. She also required 16 stitches on her head.
Speaking to NDTV from her hospital bed, Shaikh described the alleged harassment and said she wanted justice.
“I was on my way to Naigaon. I had boarded the train at Borivali. As we were approaching Naigaon station, a man, the one who was touching me inappropriately, began to molest me. I confronted him,” she said.
She added that the man continued touching her even after she got off the train. According to her account, the argument escalated before he allegedly pushed her from the train.
“I want justice. My entire life has been ruined. I was the one who took care of everything, my entire household, everything. I cannot do anything with just one arm,” she said, appealing for his punishment and support for her recovery.
Police Arrest Accused After CCTV Examination
Police said Hirmukhe fled after the incident, covering his face with a handkerchief. Officers examined CCTV footage from multiple locations, identified him and arrested him a few hours later.
“We examined CCTV footage from various locations and managed to identify and arrest the accused, who had covered his face with a handkerchief,” said Ganpat Tumbada, senior police inspector at Bhayandar Railway Police Station.
Shaikh’s family has raised questions about the police investigation, particularly the sections of law invoked against the accused. They sought the assistance of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), whose representatives met the senior police inspector of the Government Railway Police.
